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Best player prop bets for 2013

Detroit starter Max Scherzer (16-7, 3.74 ERA in 2012) could be in line for a breakout season. Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Last week I ran down some of my favorite opportunities in the sphere of team prop bets. Luckily, team props aren't the only way to risk your hard-earned dollars on baseball in March, as there's a tantalizing assortment of individual player props as well.

In an attempt to share my winnings (or my misfortune), I'll now run down some of my favorite player props for 2013 with the help of the ZiPS projection system.

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Max Scherzer, SP, Detroit Tigers
Bet: Cy Young (20/1)

At those odds, it's hard not to take an upside bet on Scherzer. If someone held me by the collar and threatened to rearrange my face if I don't pick the pitcher most likely to advance into the elite class of the league, it would be a very unusual situation, but one in which I'd have to back Scherzer. He was fourth in the American League in FIP last year (third in xFIP) and with last season's shoulder issues not recurring so far, Scherzer's getting some more buzz this spring. But I think he's even better. So I'm placing some money on the Silver Hammer.