Elly De La Cruz Chalkboard MLB Picks Today, 4/30: Baseball Projections + More

Quick Summary of Today's Top Chalkboard Picks:

• Elly De La Cruz (CIN): Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI
• Paul Skenes (PIT): Under 1.5 Walks Allowed

Thursday’s MLB action is spread across the whole day, but some of the best player props to target on Chalkboard Fantasy are some of the earliest games on the slate! We are focusing on two of the most exciting players in baseball, who just so happen to find themselves in great spots on Thursday. With Cincinnati’s superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Pittsburgh’s ace Paul Skenes, we are building a high-probability card for Thursday, April 30.

Elly De La Cruz Chalkboard MLB Pick: Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI

There’s going to be a little bit of wind blowing out to right field, and that should benefit De La Cruz. He’ll be hitting from the left side today against Michael Lorenzen, a righty who has been pummeled by left-handed hitters this season. Don’t believe me? How does a .426 batting average, .705 SLG, and .495 wOBA sound?

Over his last seven games, De La Cruz has four home runs, eight runs scored, 11 RBI, and a .786 SLG. His home park is great for hitters, and De La Cruz has taken advantage of that this season, to the tune of a 1.062 OPS and .354 ISO at Great American Ball Park.

Paul Skenes Chalkboard MLB Pick: Under 1.5 Walks Allowed

Skenes has issued just three free passes over his last three starts (17 IP), and he’s been phenomenal at home thus far in his career. Last season, he had an excellent 5.1 BB% at home, which is where that mark sits thus far at home in 2026! He’s been excellent of late, and he’ll look to continue the momentum into this divisional matchup with the Cardinals.

While the Cardinals are only slightly below the league average in terms of walk rate against RHP on the year (9.5%), they do have the fifth-lowest walk rate (7.7%) in the MLB over the last two weeks.

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