Monday, July 31 MLB odds, props, trends: Bettors backing strong nights for Angels' Griffin Canning, Mariners' George Kirby

The Los Angeles Angels are in action tonight in Atlanta in a marquee matchup, and the most-wagered MLB player prop on the entire DraftKings board Monday is from that game yet doesn't involve the two regular-season MVP locks in the Halos' Shohei Ohtani or Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. Instead, it's on inconsistent LA right-hander Griffin Canning.

There has never been an MLB season where both leagues had a unanimous MVP, but it very easily could happen in 2023 with Ohtani and Acuna. Ohtani leads the majors in homers with 39 and is on pace for 60 as well 238 strikeouts as a pitcher (only at DH tonight). He also leads the majors in opponent batting average among other things. Acuna Jr. is on pace for 37 homers and 80 steals – there has never even been a 30/60 season. The last players to steal 80 bases in the majors were Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson in 1988.

Angels-Braves is the most-wagered MLB game on the board, yet it's Canning Over 5.5 strikeouts at +105 taking the most player action. The 27-year-old has 91 strikeouts in his 16 starts, an average of 5.7 per game. Canning set a career high with 12 strikeouts over 5.2 innings on July 17 vs. the Yankees and followed that with eight Ks over five in Detroit last Tuesday.

In his last 10 starts, Canning is 4-2 with a 3.58 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 55.1 innings. His 2023 didn't get off to a great start but that made some sense as Canning the entire 2022 season and final two months of the 2021 campaign with a low back stress reaction. It's his first career look at the Braves, who are the best offensive team in the National League. In batter strikeouts, Atlanta has the sixth-fewest in MLB.

Under 1.5 walks allowed by Seattle's George Kirby against visiting Boston at -310 is No. 2 on the MLB player prop board at DK tonight. The 25-year-old has some of the best command in the majors with 112 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 20 starts. Those free passes are the fewest among qualified pitchers in the majors and tied for the fewest in franchise history in a pitcher's first 20 starts in a season.

Kirby has walked more than two batters once all season: Two against Tampa Bay on July 1. He has three walks in 16.2 career innings against Boston. Kirby pitched at Fenway on May 15 and walked one over 6.2 innings in a victory.

Tonight's other popular MLB player props at DraftKings:

Angels' Shohei Ohtani Over 0.5 home runs (+295) at Braves: Ohtani will try to become the 7th player in AL history with 40 HR before August. He is 0-for-6 career off ATL starter Charlie Morton.

Astros' Yordan Alvarez Over 0.5 RBI (+110) vs. Guardians: Alvarez has one RBI in four games since being activated off the IL.

Rays' Tyler Glasnow Over 7.5 strikeouts (-135) at Yankees: The righty hasn't faced NYY this year but has topped 7.5 Ks in five of his past six overall.

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