MLB Same Game Parlay Bets to Target: Thursday 5/2/24

Looking for a new way to bet on Major League Baseball this summer? A Same Game Parlay (SGP) at FanDuel Sportsbook might be the answer!

SGPs allow you to combine two or more selections from the same game for a higher potential payout. For more information about parlays, SGP, and SGP+, head over to FanDuel.

Here at FanDuel Research, we're going to provide some SGPs builds to consider based on the games and props available for today, but there are plenty more popular parlay ideas available at FanDuel's Parlay Hub, too!

Which correlated bets stand out for today's MLB slate? Let's dig in.

Note: All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise. Please check FanDuel Research's projections to make sure you're seeing the most updated projections.

MLB Same Game Parlay Bets for Thursday 5/2/24

Chicago Cubs at New York Mets

Mike Tauchman to Record a Hit (-200)
J.D. Martinez to Record a Hit (-170)
Alternate Total Runs: Over 7.5 (-148)

Combined Odds: +224

The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets will be finishing up a four-game series on Thursday. Ben Brown is slated to start for the Cubs while Adrian Houser is expected to be on the bump for the Mets.

With Houser getting the nod for New York, we'll want to target Chicago's bats in this SGP. Across his first five starts in 2024, Houser is in the fifth percentile in xERA (6.52), second percentile in average exit velocity (92.9 MPH), fourth percentile in strikeout rate (12.3%), and 22nd percentile in hard-hit rate (43.9%).

Mike Tauchman is among the left-handed hitters on the Cubs who should excel versus Houser in the series finale. Tauchman is sporting a .415 wOBA and .429 OBP against right-handed pitching to begin the season, and he's tallied at least one hit in eight of his last 10 games.

On the other side, J.D. Martinez has gotten off to a solid start with the Mets. While Brown has worse metrics versus lefties, Martinez has recorded at least one hit in all five games he's started this year and should be batting in the heart of New York's order.

Being that we're taking Tauchman and Martinez -- and have confidence in the other bats in Thursday's Cubs-Mets contest -- we'll also take the alternate total of 7.5 runs scored. The temp is expected to be in the 70s at Citi Field with winds slightly blowing out while Brown and Houser have multiple games where they've given up three-plus earned runs.

Washington Nationals at Texas Rangers

Josh Smith to Record a Hit (-175)
Texas Rangers Alternate Total Runs: Over 3.5 (-230)
Washington Nationals Under 3.5 Runs (-138)

Combined Odds: +249

Although it's a small sample size, southpaw Mitchell Parker is producing reverse splits in his rookie campaign with the Washington Nationals. Parker is giving up a .340 wOBA and .368 OBP to lefties compared to a .162 wOBA and .186 OBP to righties in his first three starts.

While backing Corey Seager isn't the worst idea in this matchup, there is solid value taking Josh Smith to record a hit for the Texas Rangers. Smith is a left-handed hitter who is also registering reverse splits with a .495 wOBA, .563 OBP, and a low 6.3% strikeout rate against left-handed pitchers.

Additionally, Smith has at least one hit in all but two of his appearances this season where he's gotten three-plus ABs. Even though Parker has been solid on the mound, we'll take the Rangers to score four-plus runs -- especially with Washington's bullpen posting the sixth-worst WHIP (1.45) and third-worst BABIP (.327).

Instead of taking Nathan Eovaldi to have success in the strikeout department, we'll take the under of 3.5 runs scored for the Nationals. Despite having the 10th-lowest strikeout rate (21.0%) to right-handed pitching, Washington has the ninth-lowest ISO (.136) and is around league-average with the 14th-best wRC+ (99) in that split.

As for Eovaldi, he's known for pitching deep into games, and he's permitted fewer than two earned runs in four of his first six starts in 2024.

In the first two games of the series versus the Rangers, the Nationals have combined to score just one run. Washington has also produced fewer than four runs in six of their last nine contests.

Cleveland Guardians at Houston Astros

Kyle Tucker to Record 2+ Total Bases (+100)
Steven Kwan to Record 2+ Total Bases (+100)

Combined Odds: +316

Entering Thursday's clash between the Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros, we'll be fading the starting pitchers -- Logan Allen and Spencer Arrighetti -- for both teams. In terms of Allen, the left-handed starter for the Guardians is giving up similar metrics to both sides of the plate, which makes Kyle Tucker an enticing player to target.

Tucker has long been one of the rare left-handed hitters who excels at hitting same-handed pitchers, producing a .488 wOBA, .364 ISO, and 224 wRC+ in his first 52 plate appearances versus southpaws this season. The All-Star outfielder is currently on a seven-game hit streak with a hit in 11 of his last 12 contests, and he's posted two-plus bases in four consecutive outings.

With a homer in three of his last four games, Tucker has +340 odds to hit a home run on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Steven Kwan also has fantastic value to register multiple bases in a positive matchup versus Arrighetti. Kwan should bat leadoff for the Guardians, and he's also on a seven-game hit streak where he's notched two-plus bases in four of those contests.

Arrighetti is giving up a .344 wOBA and .407 OBP to left-handed bats to begin the year. Given their recent stretches of success, we'll back both Tucker and Kwan to record two-plus bases in advantageous matchups against inconsistent pitchers.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.