April 22, 2025, brings intriguing MLB player prop bets centered around strikeouts. Tanner Bibee, struggling with a 5.85 ERA and a declining strikeout rate, faces the New York Yankees, where he’s projected to go UNDER 5.5 strikeouts. Conversely, Edward Cabrera is poised for an OVER 5.5 strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds, leveraging his impressive strikeout history. Cristopher Sanchez is expected to go UNDER 5.5 strikeouts at the Mets, while Bailey Ober and Kris Bubic are favored for OVERs against weaker lineups.

Quality MLB DFS recommendations focus on maximizing value from the seven games slated for Saturday evening. Jacob deGrom, priced at $10,200, is a top pitching option after an impressive start to the season, boasting a 2.15 ERA with the Rangers. Tanner Bibee, at $9,500, also stands out after a strong performance against the Royals, despite facing a tougher Angels lineup without Mike Trout.

In terms of offensive picks, Marcell Ozuna is intriguing given his recent home run and solid slugging percentage from previous seasons. Willy Adames, now with the Giants, could break out given his past power numbers. The Mets' lefty stack against Chris Bassitt, highlighted by Juan Soto, offers significant potential, while the Reds' stack against the Brewers' injuries is also worth considering.

The MLB schedule is gaining momentum with a split slate Saturday. The night games are particularly intriguing, featuring a flat pricing structure for pitchers. Jacob deGrom ($9,000) stands out as an elite DFS option despite recent limitations, while Robbie Ray ($8,800) poses high-risk, high-reward potential against a team with a high strikeout rate. Tanner Bibee ($8,200) offers more stability for cash games. On the hitting front, Seattle hitters could exploit Ray's home run issues, and players like Randy Arozarena ($4,000) and Corey Seager ($5,400) are worth considering. Best value options include Kyle Stowers ($2,700) and Hunter Goodman ($3,600), who could shine in favorable matchups.

Stacks to consider revolve around Atlanta facing Miami's Cal Quantrill, with players like Michael Harris ($3,700) and Austin Riley ($4,500) likely to capitalize. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds against Milwaukee's Elvin Rodriguez present opportunities, particularly if Matt McLain ($5,200) is in the lineup post-injury. Overall, this slate offers several pathways for both tournaments and cash games, emphasizing the importance of matchup research in maximizing fantasy output.

Tanner Bibee displayed a stellar performance on the mound, allowing only two hits over 5⅔ innings while striking out two batters and walking two. This outing marked his first win of the season as the Cleveland Guardians triumphed over the Kansas City Royals with a score of 6-2 in the rubber game of their series.

Offensively, Kyle Manzardo, Gabriel Arias, and Daniel Schneemann led the charge with home runs, while Steven Kwan went 3-for-5, contributing with an RBI and a run. The Guardians' early lead was established in the second inning and extended through effective hitting and timely scoring opportunities, ultimately closing the game with a solid victory.

Ben Lively is set to start for the Cleveland Guardians on Opening Day after Tanner Bibee was scratched due to food poisoning. Lively, a former pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, will face off against Cole Ragans of the Kansas City Royals. His performance in 2023 with the Reds included a 5.38 ERA across 19 games, but he had a more successful stint with Cleveland last season, boasting a 3.81 ERA and 13 wins. This marks Lively's first Opening Day start, highlighting a significant moment in his career.