Kyle Tucker

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.Another day, another jam-packed slate of MLB games. Let's take a closer look at a few of my preferred ways to attack it.Reese Olson: Over 17.5 outsOlson is pitching extremely well this season. He's allowed two runs or fewer in six of seven starts, including five straight. Those are impressive numbers considering he's faced the Rangers, Yankees, and Twins in that span.Although he's been a mixed bag in terms of going over his total, Olson is averaging 17 outs this season. He's routinely flirting with this number despite a very stiff opposing schedule.Tuesday looks like a great spot for Olson to give the Tigers some length. The Marlins sit 27th in runs per game and 29th in OBP. They don't get on base, nor do they hit for power.Olson's averaged 20 outs per contest when pitching at home this season. I wouldn't be surprised if he hovers around that number again versus one of the league's worst offenses.Odds: -110 (playable to -130)Logan Gilbert: Under 1.5 walksGilbert's walk total has been one of my favorite props to target for the better part of two years. He has great control of the strike zone and rarely hands out free passes. In fact, he's only walked multiple batters in 10 of his past 30 starts.He walked two batters or more in back-to-back games only once in that span, which just so happens to be over his last two starts.The Royals should afford Gilbert a great opportunity to get back on track. They've walked in only 5.8% of their at-bats against right-handed pitchers this month. That's the second-lowest rate in the majors, ranking them ahead of only the lowly White Sox.Kansas City has a swing-first approach at the dish and owns the third-highest contact rate against righties in May.Given how effective Gilbert is at keeping the ball in the zone, and the Royals' tendency to swing, he should be able to regain his control in this one.Odds: -130 (playable to -145)JP Sears: Under 17.5 outs The Astros appear to be turning a corner - at least offensively. They posted a .324 OBP in May (sixth highest) while striking out only 17.4% of the time. That's the lowest mark in the league.Their numbers are even more impressive considering the caliber of pitchers they've faced this month. Houston has faced Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Carlos Rod n, among others, over the past two weeks alone.I think Sears will have trouble slowing the Astros down. He's sporting a concerning .369 xwOBA versus righties over his past four starts, and Houston is expected to have six of them in its lineup. The Astros also feature left-handed monsters like Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Whether Sears' splits are better against lefties or not, he'll have a tough time with those stars.Sears has gone under this number in 18 of his past 30 starts. With the Athletics' bullpen in pretty good shape, I don't see Sears completing six innings in this one.Odds: -115 (playable to -130)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the first edition of theScore's 2024 Most Valuable Player rankings, where we look at the top five players in each league. Let's run through some of the best performances through the first month and a half of the season. Odds courtesy theScore Bet.American League5. Ryan Jeffers, Twins David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 35 9 30 21 .292/.371/.617 1.8 N/A Jeffers might belong on this list just for giving the world the home-run sausage. He also deserves a place for what he's done in the batter's box. Jeffers has been one of the catalysts in Minnesota's offensive resurgence after a difficult start to the season, leading the majors in slugging. The catcher has improved his strikeout rate, leading to more contact in the zone and more baseballs flying over the fence. The Twins have navigated IL stints for Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton so far this season. Jeffers' torrid start at the plate has enabled the club to remain competitive in a stronger-than-expected AL Central.4. Kyle Tucker, Astros Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 40 13 29 28 .277/.399/.595 2.4 +1600 The Astros have been MLB's biggest disappointment, but the blame shouldn't fall on Tucker's shoulders. He's been an offensive force at the plate, leading the AL in home runs (13) and wRC+ (181). Tucker finished fifth in MVP voting last season. The Astros will need him to keep up his career-best productivity if they hope to dig out of the early hole they've created for themselves in the AL West.3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 43 5 21 38 .304/.369/.518 2.7 +260 Witt inked a long-term extension with the Royals in the offseason and has come out of the gates like a house on fire. The young star has improved his plate discipline, nearly doubling his walk rate from last season. Witt's defensive play at shortstop continues to rank among the league's best. He's in the 100th percentile in outs above average after finishing in the 98th percentile in 2023. Witt will be counted upon to continue to lead the way on both sides of the ball if Kansas City hopes to secure its first postseason berth since winning the 2015 World Series.2. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles Mitchell Layton / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 40 12 27 30 .264/.339/.553 2.3 +400 It's not shocking that the Orioles have one of their young stars on this list. It may be a bit of a surprise, however, that it's Henderson and not catcher Adley Rutschman. Henderson's been the engine during Baltimore's strong start and is deserving of his place among the game's elite. Henderson became the youngest player ever to hit 10 home runs before May 1 and has improved nearly all of his batted-ball metrics from his 2023 Rookie of the Year performance. The 22-year-old has also made huge strides against left-handed pitching (.317) after mustering a .209 average against southpaws last year. Henderson could be a mainstay on MVP lists for the next decade.1. Juan Soto, Yankees Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 42 9 34 27 .314/.414/.541 2.3 +200 Soto has been exactly as advertised in his first season in the Bronx. The offensive powerhouse has given a stagnant team a much-needed jolt. The Yankees have been missing a prolific power hitter from the left side to pair with Aaron Judge for years. Soto has fit like a glove in manager Aaron Boone's lineup while also showing a flair for the dramatic in big moments. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made the trade for Soto knowing that he would test free agency at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign. After turning down a $440-million extension offer from the Nationals in 2022, it's abundantly clear that Soto will be looking for at least $500 million on a long-term deal. Soto is first in the AL in RBIs and on-base percentage, tied for second in fWAR, and is third in OPS.National League5. Alec Bohm, Phillies Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 41 4 33 21 .329/.394/.520 2.0 +2000 Bohm had struggled to live up to expectations after finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020 but has been excellent to start 2024. He's making more contact than ever, and the results have followed. Bohm is among the NL leaders in batting average and RBIs and is tied for the MLB lead in doubles as he's settled into the cleanup spot in Philadelphia's lineup. He should be able to put up big numbers if he can continue to build on a great start to the campaign.4. Marcell Ozuna, Braves Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 38 12 40 24 .329/.413/.636 1.8 +2000 Where would the Braves be without Ozuna? The veteran slugger has been a rock for manager Brian Snitker, helping keep Atlanta near the top of the NL East despite slower starts from Ronald Acu a Jr., Austin Riley, and Matt Olson. Ozuna became the fastest Brave to reach 40 RBIs since Hank Aaron in 1970. He leads the NL in that stat while also sitting inside the top five in a number of other offensive categories. It's been a remarkable return to form for Ozuna over the last 12 months, as he has 50 home runs, 138 RBIs, and a 164 wRC+ over 164 games since May 1, 2023.3. William Contreras, Brewers Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 41 5 30 38 .354/.433/.528 2.3 +2000 Contreras has been the engine of a surprisingly strong Brewers offense. He's helped keep Milwaukee afloat despite Christian Yelich spending time on the injured list with a back injury. Contreras cut his strikeout rate by nearly 8% in two years as he continues to show growth at the plate. The 26-year-old is among the leaders in almost every offensive category among NL catchers. Contreras is on pace to push past his breakout 2023 campaign in which he was worth 5.7 fWAR.2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 41 11 28 33 .354/.422/.659 2.6 +300 If not for his Dodgers teammate, Ohtani would be the easy pick for the top spot on the list. A third MVP would put Ohtani in elite company, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the only players in MLB history to win the award in both leagues. Many wondered what kind of numbers Ohtani would put up surrounded by incredible talent with the Dodgers after years in Anaheim. Through the season's first seven weeks, Ohtani is tearing the cover off the ball. He's top-five in the NL in home runs, OPS, wRC+, and fWAR.1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 43 7 28 35 .341/.440/.553 2.9 +160 There was some question about how Betts would handle the transition to shortstop after years as a Gold Glove outfielder. He's quickly silenced any doubts, grading out as an above-average defender while also putting up gaudy offensive numbers. Betts is the only player in baseball who could make such a drastic switch and somehow improve. That's what separates him from his teammate, Ohtani. The 31-year-old accrued 10.2 fWAR during his 2018 AL MVP campaign with the Boston Red Sox. He's on pace to eclipse that number this season.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the first edition of theScore's 2024 Most Valuable Player rankings, where we look at the top five players in each league. Let's run through some of the best performances through the first month and a half of the season. Odds courtesy theScore Bet.American League5. Ryan Jeffers, Twins David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 35 9 30 21 .292/.371/.617 1.8 N/A Jeffers might belong on this list just for giving the world the home-run sausage. He also deserves a place for what he's done in the batter's box. Jeffers has been one of the catalysts in Minnesota's offensive resurgence after a difficult start to the season, leading the majors in slugging. The catcher has improved his strikeout rate, leading to more contact in the zone and more baseballs flying over the fence. The Twins have navigated IL stints for Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton so far this season. Jeffers' torrid start at the plate has enabled the club to remain competitive in a stronger-than-expected AL Central.4. Kyle Tucker, Astros Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 40 13 29 28 .277/.399/.595 2.4 +1600 The Astros have been MLB's biggest disappointment, but the blame shouldn't fall on Tucker's shoulders. He's been an offensive force at the plate, leading the AL in home runs (13) and wRC+ (181). Tucker finished fifth in MVP voting last season. The Astros will need him to keep up his career-best productivity if they hope to dig out of the early hole they've created for themselves in the AL West.3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 43 5 21 38 .304/.369/.518 2.7 +260 Witt inked a long-term extension with the Royals in the offseason and has come out of the gates like a house on fire. The young star has improved his plate discipline, nearly doubling his walk rate from last season. Witt's defensive play at shortstop continues to rank among the league's best. He's in the 100th percentile in outs above average after finishing in the 98th percentile in 2023. Witt will be counted upon to continue to lead the way on both sides of the ball if Kansas City hopes to secure its first postseason berth since winning the 2015 World Series.2. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles Mitchell Layton / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 40 12 27 30 .264/.339/.553 2.3 +400 It's not shocking that the Orioles have one of their young stars on this list. It may be a bit of a surprise, however, that it's Henderson and not catcher Adley Rutschman. Henderson's been the engine during Baltimore's strong start and is deserving of his place among the game's elite. Henderson became the youngest player ever to hit 10 home runs before May 1 and has improved nearly all of his batted-ball metrics from his 2023 Rookie of the Year performance. The 22-year-old has also made huge strides against left-handed pitching (.317) after mustering a .209 average against southpaws last year. Henderson could be a mainstay on MVP lists for the next decade.1. Juan Soto, Yankees Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 42 9 34 27 .314/.414/.541 2.3 +200 Soto has been exactly as advertised in his first season in the Bronx. The offensive powerhouse has given a stagnant team a much-needed jolt. The Yankees have been missing a prolific power hitter from the left side to pair with Aaron Judge for years. Soto has fit like a glove in manager Aaron Boone's lineup while also showing a flair for the dramatic in big moments. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made the trade for Soto knowing that he would test free agency at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign. After turning down a $440-million extension offer from the Nationals in 2022, it's abundantly clear that Soto will be looking for at least $500 million on a long-term deal. Soto is first in the AL in RBIs and on-base percentage, tied for second in fWAR, and is third in OPS.National League5. Alec Bohm, Phillies Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 41 4 33 21 .329/.394/.520 2.0 +2000 Bohm had struggled to live up to expectations after finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020 but has been excellent to start 2024. He's making more contact than ever, and the results have followed. Bohm is among the NL leaders in batting average and RBIs and is tied for the MLB lead in doubles as he's settled into the cleanup spot in Philadelphia's lineup. He should be able to put up big numbers if he can continue to build on a great start to the campaign.4. Marcell Ozuna, Braves Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 38 12 40 24 .329/.413/.636 1.8 +2000 Where would the Braves be without Ozuna? The veteran slugger has been a rock for manager Brian Snitker, helping keep Atlanta near the top of the NL East despite slower starts from Ronald Acu a Jr., Austin Riley, and Matt Olson. Ozuna became the fastest Brave to reach 40 RBIs since Hank Aaron in 1970. He leads the NL in that stat while also sitting inside the top five in a number of other offensive categories. It's been a remarkable return to form for Ozuna over the last 12 months, as he has 50 home runs, 138 RBIs, and a 164 wRC+ over 164 games since May 1, 2023.3. William Contreras, Brewers Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 41 5 30 38 .354/.433/.528 2.3 +2000 Contreras has been the engine of a surprisingly strong Brewers offense. He's helped keep Milwaukee afloat despite Christian Yelich spending time on the injured list with a back injury. Contreras cut his strikeout rate by nearly 8% in two years as he continues to show growth at the plate. The 26-year-old is among the leaders in almost every offensive category among NL catchers. Contreras is on pace to push past his breakout 2023 campaign in which he was worth 5.7 fWAR.2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 41 11 28 33 .354/.422/.659 2.6 +300 If not for his Dodgers teammate, Ohtani would be the easy pick for the top spot on the list. A third MVP would put Ohtani in elite company, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the only players in MLB history to win the award in both leagues. Many wondered what kind of numbers Ohtani would put up surrounded by incredible talent with the Dodgers after years in Anaheim. Through the season's first seven weeks, Ohtani is tearing the cover off the ball. He's top-five in the NL in home runs, OPS, wRC+, and fWAR.1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty GP HR RBI R AVG/OBP/SLG WAR ODDS 43 7 28 35 .341/.440/.553 2.9 +160 There was some question about how Betts would handle the transition to shortstop after years as a Gold Glove outfielder. He's quickly silenced any doubts, grading out as an above-average defender while also putting up gaudy offensive numbers. Betts is the only player in baseball who could make such a drastic switch and somehow improve. That's what separates him from his teammate, Ohtani. The 31-year-old accrued 10.2 fWAR during his 2018 AL MVP campaign with the Boston Red Sox. He's on pace to eclipse that number this season.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Tucker smashed a two-run home run to give the Houston Astros a 2-0 lead over the Detroit Tigers.

Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker blasted a ball to right field against the Detroit Tigers and tied the leader for most home runs this season.