Mets vs. Dodgers: The best player prop bets for Aug. 20

The Los Angeles Dodgers (76-46) will look to extend their league-leading winning streak to eight games this evening when they host the reeling New York Mets (60-61).

LA kicked off its four-game series with a narrow 2-1 win over NY on Wednesday before a lively crowd at Dodger Stadium. It was a victory by committee as seven relievers combined to hold the Mets to just six hits and one earned run. 

Newly acquired infielder Trea Turner did most of the damage for LA, as he went 2-for-4 and drove in a run in just his 12th game in Dodger blue.

The Mets, who have now lost six of their past seven outings, will be hoping for a measure of revenge tonight when they send Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 10.34 ERA) to the mound. The Dodgers will counter with two-time All-Star Walker Buehler (12-2, 2.09 ERA).

First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET, and we have the three best player prop bets to wager on below.

Walker Buehler: Over/Under 7.5 Strikeouts

Few hurlers have been hotter this season than Walker Buehler, who leads the National League in ERA and win-loss percentage. The 27-year-old righty has given up just four runs combined over his last five starts and has had little trouble with the Mets in 2021. The last time he faced New York on Aug. 14, Buehler surrendered just four hits and struck out 10 over seven spectacular innings. Overall, the Mets are batting just .184 against the Lexington native, and only two players (Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto) have taken him yard.

Buehler has struck out seven batters or more 14 times this season, including five times in his last seven starts. Take the Over tonight.

Pick: Over 7.5 Strikeouts (+110)

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Carlos Carrasco: Over/Under 4.5 Strikeouts

Do you remember when Carrasco went 18-6 with a 3.29 ERA for Cleveland? So do the Mets. That’s one of the reasons they traded for the veteran right-hander in January. Unfortunately that version of Carrasco got lost somewhere over Ohio, leaving New York with an injury-riddled hurler who can’t seem to locate the strike zone.

The 34-year-old Carrasco hasn't made it into the fifth inning in any of his starts this season and is unlikely to go deep tonight. Take the Under on his projected strikeout total.

Pick: Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-114)

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Trea Turner: Over/Under 1.5 hits

There are no easy outs in the Dodgers’ star-studded line-up, but one player Carrasco may struggle with most is Trea Turner. The longtime National owns a career .800 batting average against the beleaguered starter. Granted, Turner has only faced Carrasco five times, but he tagged him for four hits – including a pair of doubles -  in those instances.

Turner is hitting .322 at home this season and is projected to finish with career-highs in home runs and RBIs in his seventh season in the majors. Pencil him for another two hits tonight.

Pick: Over 1.5 Hits (+155)