We've been focusing on the bats a lot around here. Let's turn our attention back to the rubber and see if we can't find a bit of player prop success on the diamond tonight.

K, these plays look good

Betting: Shane Bieber over 5.5 strikeouts (-110 BetMGM)

This game starts at 2:10 p.m. ET, so if you like the read don't postpone locking in the play!

Bieber and the Guardians are squaring off against the Royals this afternoon, and it makes the Cleveland righty an intriguing option to back. Bieber has picked up his strikeout tally big time over the last few games, piling up 22 total across his last three starts.

Kansas City is fanning at the fifth-highest rate against RHP, and Bieber should be able to secure at least six innings today seeing as no team hits righties worse than the Royals. Six of the last seven starting right-handed pitchers have gone over their K prop total against Kansas City, with five of them reaching at least six.

That's the number we need today, and the last time Bieber pitched in KC he finished with seven strikeouts.

Betting: Max Scherzer over 7.5 strikeouts (-105 BetMGM)
 
Max Scherzer of the New York Mets has gotten his K game going, fanning 8+ batters in five of his last six starts. An important metric to identify the quality of one's strikeouts is his swinging-strike rate, which helps to show how often he's beating the batter vs. the batter beating himself.

Scherzer ranks in the 85th percentile for swinging-strike rate, and we like him to have another solid outing tonight.

The Brewers are striking out at the fourth-highest clip against RHP, and 11 of the past 14 starting righties have covered the over on their K prop. Load up Scherzer for another solid day.

In the news ...

Domingo German throws 24th perfect game in MLB history — For just the 24th time in MLB history, and the first time since 2012, a perfect game was thrown. The honor was accomplished by Yankees pitcher Domingo German Wednesday night against Oakland. Baseball is a funny sport. German's previous two starts saw him allow 17 runs in just 5.1 IP. He then comes back and tosses a perfect game — go figure.

Isaiah Rodgers and other NFL players expected to receive season-long suspensions for gambling — It is expected that Colts starting cornerback Isaiah Rodgers will be receiving a season-long suspension for betting on NFL games, along with a few other players to be named. This punishment is consistent with past offenses from multiple Lions players and Calvin Ridley last year. The NFL says they're working on better educating their players on the do's and don'ts of when and if to bet, but it's a tricky situation for a league that has partnered with three sportsbooks.
 
Devils extend Timo Meier a day after trading for Tyler Toffoli — The New Jersey Devils' Stanley Cup window is open. After trading for Tyler Toffoli on Tuesday, the team extended mid-season pickup Timo Meier, signing him to an eight-year, $70.4M contract. The Devils made a surprise run to the second round this year and have now locked down a core of forwards all 26 years or younger. New Jersey is +1000 to win next year's Stanley Cup Final, tied for the third-best odds in the league.

 Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll