LM Tipster targeted Elly De La Cruz to steal a base, citing his 97th-percentile sprint speed and aggressive 29-for-32 success rate. Cubs catcher Yan Gomes has thrown out only 18% of runners, and Colin Rea owns one of the slowest slide-steps on the slate (1.55 secs to the plate). In a low-scoring game LM expects Cincinnati to manufacture offense on the bases.

Matt Perrault played the Reds team total over 3.5 runs (-135) by leaning into Cincinnati’s torrid offensive form. The Reds have plated 6, 6, 8, 7 and 7 runs across their last five games, fueled by Elly De La Cruz’s two-homer eruption Tuesday—his 11th of the season and fifth multi-homer game, tying Pete Rose’s franchise mark for switch-hitters. Weather in Kansas City is forecast for the mid-70s with humidity, another boost for hitters. While he respects rookie lefty Noah Cameron’s three-start 1.59 ERA, Perrault is betting regression and a KC bullpen that has struggled behind him. Hunter Greene’s weaker road splits (1.86 ERA at home vs 3.48 on the road) steered Perrault away from a full-game side, but he’s confident the lineup can scratch four runs in any game script. A 4-3 Cincinnati win cashes the ticket, and Perrault is content paying the juice to ride the streak.

Morgan spotlighted Elly De La Cruz at $3.8k, pointing to eight home runs and 15 steals already after last year’s 25/67 breakout. He likes the matchup with Luis L. Ortiz, whose career 4.55 FIP and 7.29 road ERA with Cleveland have made him one of the more attackable righties on the slate.

Morgan locked Elly De La Cruz into his core hitter pool, pointing to the shortstop’s eight homers and 15 steals already in 2025. He’ll face Luis L. Ortiz, owner of a career 4.55 FIP and a brutal 7.29 road ERA in his first season with Cleveland. With the stolen-base upside and a suspect right-hander on the mound, Morgan views EDLC as a ceiling play worth the $3,800 salary in all contest types.

It's The Final Round predicted Elly De La Cruz will torch Braves rookie AJ Smith-Shawver. Smith-Shawver’s four-seam (41 % usage) is being ripped for a .394 average and a homer; De La Cruz is batting .400 (10-for-26) with two homers off four-seamers. The shortstop also owns a .400+ mark on curves and .357 with a homer on sliders, covering every secondary pitch the rookie throws. In two prior meetings De La Cruz is 2-for-2 with a homer. He has a hit in 15 of his last 17 contests. While his own sweet-spot rate is just 31.5 %, Smith-Shawver is seventh worst among qualifiers at 49.1 % allowed. The tout likes De La Cruz to clear hits/total-bases props and views him as a tournament-winning DFS piece.

Joe Pisapia advised betting Elly De La Cruz to swipe a bag at +194 tonight against Washington. Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz has gunned down only 20–26% of runners this season, providing a green light for MLB’s stolen-base leader. Pisapia framed the price as nearly 2-to-1 on an elite skill in a favorable battery matchup that projects Max Fried-type pace to the plate. He called it his favorite prop of the day and suggested folding it into a small long-shot parlay with two other power props for a 50-to-1 payout.

Just A Bet Outside paired Elly De La Cruz for 1+ hit in a parlay, noting the switch-hitting phenom brings a 12-game hitting streak and a .375 average over the last week into a matchup with Miles Mikolas. Mikolas is surrendering 10.3 H/9, owns a soft 12.3 % strikeout rate and is getting torched by left-handed bats to the tune of a .319 average. Because Elly will bat lefty and Mikolas rarely misses bats, the host expects at least four or five balls in play from Cincinnati’s leadoff man. Add in St. Louis’ shaky middle relief, and De La Cruz’s chances of extending the streak make him a strong single-prop or parlay piece.

It's The Final Round said Elly De La Cruz is a premium hit-prop target against Miles Mikolas. He broke down Mikolas’ pitch mix (32% four-seam, 29% slider, 15% change-up, 13% curve) and noted that De La Cruz owns a .400 BA vs four-seams (8-for-20, 2 HR), .357 vs sliders (5-for-14, HR), and .364 vs curves (4-for-11). Mikolas has been hammered on those same offerings, surrendering a .545 BA on his four-seam (6-for-11) and .238 on the slider while showing no feel for the curve. In their personal history De La Cruz is 4-for-11 (.364) off Mikolas. Wrap that with an 11-game hitting streak and knocks in 17 of his last 20, and the tout expects De La Cruz to clear 1.5 total bases or “record a hit” props with room to spare, making him a strong DFS core play as well.

For player props, Kingpin spotlighted Elly De La Cruz 1+ hit. The explosive shortstop has been a ‘breakout star’ and faces an erratic Pallante. One base knock cashes, and De La Cruz’s speed creates additional upside for bettors wanting extra-base or stolen-base escalators.

Guy Boston targeted Elly De La Cruz OVER 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs. The switch-hitting phenom has cleared that number in nine of his last ten while averaging 2.9 HRR during the stretch. Boston highlighted De La Cruz’s .276 average and .364 OBP versus righties this season and his elite +2.7 runs-above-average mark against fastballs—the pitch Pallante leans on most. Even though De La Cruz owns only two hits in nine prior plate appearances against Pallante, Boston expects Great American Ball Park’s power-boosting environment and the Reds’ projected 4.9 implied runs to put the over within reach.

Just A Bet Outside paired Elly De La Cruz with Aaron Judge in his hit parlay, confident that the Reds phenom will keep his 11-game streak alive. De La Cruz has logged at least one knock in every game since mid-April and collected two or more hits in each of his last three. While three of those contests came in Coors Field, the tout noted the underlying splits are solid everywhere—Elly owns a .260 average versus righties and .265 versus lefties. On Sunday he’ll face St. Louis right-hander Andre Pallante, whose 14.3% K-rate is third-lowest on Monday’s slate and who is allowing a higher batting average and slugging percentage to left-handed batters. Because Pallante rarely misses bats, the tout expects plenty of balls in play and likes that the Cardinals bullpen will enter early if Pallante labors. With De La Cruz barreling everything right now, one single is all that’s needed to cash this leg.

It's The Final Round targeted Elly De La Cruz props against Antonio Senzatella, highlighting a dream pitch-mix fit. Senzatella pumps a four-seam fastball 61 % of the time and it has been torched for a .351 average. Elly is slashing .438 (7-for-16) with 2 HR off four-seamers this season, plus .333 (4-for-12) against sliders and .286 (2-for-7) vs curveballs. Even Senzatella’s changeup (19 % usage) is hemorrhaging a .538 average. There is no prior matchup, but De La Cruz carries an eight-game hitting streak and has hits in 14 of his last 17. The tout expects that form to continue and is comfortable betting his hits + runs + RBI or total bases overs.

Marcus flagged Elly De La Cruz ($6,300) as the slate’s most explosive hitter, noting that pairing his 16% barrel rate and 9 SBs with the Coors Field run environment is DFS gold. Antonio Senzatela’s 13.9% K rate and 1.48 HR/9 leave little resistance, and the Rockies’ bullpen sits 29th in xFIP. Even with elevated prices across the Reds’ lineup, Marcus still wants EDLC exposure in stacks because a 15-DK-point floor and 35-point ceiling are both realistic in this environment.

Young is backing Elly De La Cruz over 1.5 total bases, a wager that has cashed 60 % of the time this month. Although Cabrera starts for the Marlins, Mills notes the right‑hander will not work all nine innings, and Miami’s middle relief owns a 4.70 ERA. De La Cruz’s elite sprint speed gives him extra paths via infield knocks and doubles. Young is sprinkling on a home‑run prop as well given De La Cruz’s 114 mph max‑exit velocity.

Scott Reichel singled out Elly De La Cruz for a home‑run ticket against Edward Cabrera. Cabrera has coughed up a homer in each of his first two outings and is allowing a .280 average to left‑handed bats, the side Elly will hit from. Reichel noted Cabrera’s hard‑contact rate north of 41 % and a career‑long battle with walks that can force him to groove fastballs. De La Cruz already took Dean Kremer deep yesterday and owns elite barrel metrics (18 % barrel rate, 111 mph max EV). With loanDepot Park’s roof likely open and Cabrera’s command still shaky, Reichel expects one mistake to end up in the right‑field seats and likes Elly at anything 4‑1 or better.

Reichel flagged a sneaky prop angle: Edward Cabrera has already surrendered six stolen bases in just two starts. Facing the Reds, who rank top‑5 in steal attempts, that sets up perfectly for speed demon Elly De La Cruz (8‑for‑9 on SBs this season). Reichel expects Cincinnati to put constant pressure on Cabrera’s slow delivery and poor pick‑off move, making an Elly stolen‑base prop—or multi‑steal SGP—a strong plus‑money bet.

Elly De La Cruz is a ceiling play according to the host. He is 3‑for‑3 with extra‑base pop against Max Meyer and has hits in 11 of 14 games this season. That perfect prior plus his speed/power combo makes him a strong bet for hits plus steals/total bases ladders and a high‑upside DFS tournament option.

Richard Louis highlights Elly De La Cruz as a dynamic and smooth offensive threat for Cincinnati. De La Cruz is tied for fourth in MLB with 18 RBI, also possessing three home runs and 16 total hits. Louis specifically emphasizes De La Cruz's recent form, including his grand slam against Pittsburgh on April 12. Given the matchup against Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo, who has a solid overall ERA but faces a potent Reds lineup at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, Louis notes De La Cruz as a favorable bet to contribute significantly in Thursday's series finale.

Chris Morgan recommended Elly De La Cruz for DFS lineups in spite of his plate discipline issues and inability to hit lefties effectively. Even with those limitations, De La Cruz produced an impressive combination of 25 home runs and an eye-popping 67 stolen bases last season. Facing Carmen Mlodzinski—recently moved from bullpen to rotation who gave up seven hits and four runs in his first start against Tampa Bay—De La Cruz, a hitter with a strong .849 OPS against right-handed pitchers, offers high upside for fantasy production via both power and stolen bases.

Brian Howard expressed pessimism regarding the Cincinnati Reds' ability to retain budding superstar Elly De La Cruz after seeing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million contract with Toronto. Howard stated confidently that if Guerrero commands that salary, De La Cruz will certainly expect an even greater payday, something the smaller-market Reds will be unable to match. Consequently, Howard advised fans (and bettors) to appreciate De La Cruz while he's still a Red, strongly implying future departure to a team willing to pay astronomically for his talent.

Chris Welsh definitively preferred Elly De La Cruz over Yordan Alvarez in a trade scenario, particularly emphasizing De La Cruz's roto-category upside. Noting Alvarez's slower-than-desired start this season, Welsh stated that he would easily take De La Cruz's blend of speed and power, which significantly elevates his value in roto leagues compared to Alvarez's skillset.

Millz Young singled out Elly De La Cruz as a bounce-back candidate after starting quietly in the first two games, taking him confidently to exceed 1.5 total bases. Millz highlighted De La Cruz's capability to get on base and steal bags, referencing past performances. He also suggested De La Cruz might even go yard in this matchup, noting that other superstars like Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have already started hitting home runs, reinforcing a broader trend of star hitters warming up early in the season.

Vaughn Dalzell identified Reds star Elly De La Cruz as a top breakout MVP candidate at +2000 odds. Dalzell focused on De La Cruz leading MLB in stolen bases with 67 last season, combined with impressive metrics of 25 homers, 76 RBIs, and 105 runs. He praised De La Cruz's elite athleticism, speed, and raw upside, and noted the player's own stated goal to improve his problematic 31% strikeout rate. If De La Cruz moderately improves his plate discipline, Dalzell argues his elite power-speed combination makes him a prime MVP candidate. Dalzell also recommended him to lead the league in stolen bases despite lower odds than last year.

Brian Howard enthusiastically endorsed betting Elly De La Cruz's stolen base prop at +170 odds for opening day against the Giants. Howard pointed out De La Cruz enjoys significant advantages against right-handed pitchers, noting that as a switch-hitter, he's markedly more effective hitting from the left side. Howard specifically highlighted De La Cruz's offseason improvements, particularly significantly reduced strikeout rates, suggesting better contact and a higher on-base likelihood. Additionally, he explained the challenges left-handed pitchers present to base runners due to pickoff mechanics and asserted that facing a right-hander like Logan Webb greatly increases De La Cruz's stolen base opportunities. Both Howard and Kyle Purviance noted cold weather conditions might reduce offensive power output, forcing teams to manufacture runs by running, adding further value to the speed-based prop.