MLB Picks Today: TheDannyClassic’s Best Bets Thursday, July 9

In a world full of AI models spitting out sports props and game picks, TheDannyClassic stays grounded in the human side of baseball. His love for data and numbers coupled with his resurgence of interest in Major League Baseball blossomed into consistent, long-term success in making MLB picks.

Check out Dan’s other baseball and sports content across all of his socials. You can find him on TikTok, Instagram, and X. You can also find Dan over on Just Baseball’s Discord. Sign up here for 50% off your first month.

With all of that said, let’s dive into today’s slate to identify the best prop bets on the board. All odds provided are courtesy of BetMGM. For new users, use code TDC for a first-bet offer up to $1500 back in bonuses if your first pick loses.

Best MLB Props Today

Atlanta braves at Pittsburgh Pirates

12:35 PM Eastern

Mitch Keller will steer the ship for the Pirates today for the early game of the day. The Braves find themselves trying to stop a horrific skid since Acuna went down to injury.

Keller is the perfect target for a big offensive day, especially from lefty bats. He has not had a single outing with an ERA lower than 4.50 since May 24 and is averaging 4.4 earned runs against over his last 10 appearances.

Left-handed hitters are responsible for 10 of the 12 home runs off of Keller. They drive a stat line of .275 average, .478 slugging, and an 11.3% barrel rate. Matt Olson is licking his lips as he prepares for today’s matchup.

Lifetime against Keller, Olson is 8-for-15 with a double and a home run. That’s a 1.363 OPS for a guy averaging 2.7 bases per game over his last 10, and clearing his bases line in 6 of those games. Olson has been quiet through the first two games of this series, with only one hit in 8 at bats, drawing that hit out into a double.

Olson has 14 home runs against right-handed pitchers this year with a respectable .268 average and .566 slugging percentage. I’m looking for the Braves to jump on Keller, especially during the second time through the lineup.

TheDannyClassic’s Picks of the Day

Matt Olson o 1.5 bases (-110 at BetMGM)

Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals

7:45 PM Eastern

Jackson Chourio has been an on-base machine when facing Andre Pallante of the Cardinals. I don’t expect this to change today for the streaky Brewers youngster.

In 8 at bats, Chourio has 4 hits, one going for extra-bases. However, he has also collected 4 walks, which tells me he sees the ball really well out of Pallante’s hand. Chourio benefits from consistent bats behind him in the lineup, and has scored a run in 6 of his last 10 games.

Pallante’s last outing against the Brewers did not go the way he had hoped. Through 6 innings pitched, he allowed 8 hits and 5 runs with a pair of walks. He is coming off of a dominant win over the Cubs but recently allowed the Marlins to get to him for 5 runs as in a similar fashion as his game facing the Brewers.

If Chourio can reach base a couple of times, Turang, Contreras, and Bauers have all had some success against Pallante in the past.

TheDannyClassic’s Picks of the Day

Jackson Chourio o 0.5 runs scored (-115 at BetMGM)