Although it's a small slate of Major League Baseball games on Thursday, we still have plenty of MLB Underdog picks and MLB players to dive into. As you enjoy some afternoon baseball, check out these MLB picks on Underdog Fantasy for tonight's action. Our top MLB plays and props feature St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado as he looks to start a new home run streak. Plus, we're fading New York Yankees SP Nestor Cortes against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. Check out these free MLB player props and MLB daily picks on Underdog Fantasy for “Pick'Em” contests tonight. Don't forget to check out the latest MLB weather report and the confirmed MLB lineups when placing those MLB betting picks. Plus, the MLB daily projections and MLB Batter vs Pitcher page will help you find the best matchups for MLB player props and MLB DFS lineups. Now, let's dive into the top MLB player picks on Underdog Fantasy for Thursday, May 18th.

 

MLB Underdog Fantasy Top Picks May 18

Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals – OVER 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI

After homering in five straight games, Nolan Arenado finally “cooled off” and went homerless yesterday. The St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman still went 1-for-4 with an RBI on Wednesday and he now has over 1.5 combined hits, runs, and RBI in 11 straight games. That recent home run streak definitely helps, but Arenado is a top run-producer and hitter in the St. Louis lineup either way. He’s batting .414 with a 1.438 OPS over the past seven games and he has a .306 BA, 18 RBI, and 11 runs scored over the past 15 games. Tonight, Arenado will face Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias, a pitcher he’s had some success against. In their careers, Arenado is 6-for-13 (.462 BA) with four extra-base hits against Urias. It’s a small sample size, but those are good vibes when you consider the current hot streak for the Cards’ star. Plus, Urias has a 6.10 ERA in four road starts this year compared to a 1.99 ERA at home. 

Nestor Cortes, New York Yankees – UNDER 4.5 Strikeouts

At first glance, this strikeout number may seem low for Nestor Cortes. While he has gone over 4.5 strikeouts in five of eight starts this season, we’re still fading the New York Yankees’ starter tonight in a tough road matchup. The Toronto Blue Jays have just a 17.3% strikeout rate against left-handed pitching this year, the second-lowest mark in the MLB. The Jays also boast strong numbers vs. lefties over the past two weeks: 17.5% K rate (3rd-lowest), 12.3% walk rate (the lowest), and a .351 wOBA (8th-best). Meanwhile, Cortes has been under 4.5 strikeouts in both of his past two outings coming into tonight. That includes a poor start vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, another offense that is tough on left-handed pitching. Plus, Cortes has struggled on the road with a 7.20 ERA in three road starts this season. That continues a trend from last year when he had much stronger numbers at Yankee Stadium. 

 

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