MLB Player Props & Bets: Sunday (4/5)
The start of the 2026 MLB season has been nothing short of thrilling. Talented rookies have met the moment, veteran sluggers have blasted off in the clutch, and dynamic pitchers have exhibited their expertise. The fun continues on Sunday with all 30 teams in action. Here's a look at three MLB player props and picks for April 5th.
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Sunday's Top MLB Player Props & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Lance McCullers Jr. Over 15.5 Outs Recorded (+101)
Lance McCullers Jr. turned some heads when he cruised through seven scoreless innings (96 pitches) versus the White Sox in his opening start of the campaign. The veteran arm tallied nine strikeouts and forced 17 whiffs. It was a step in the right direction for someone with a history of injuries. McCullers missed all of 2024 due to flexor tendon surgery before landing on the injured list four times with various ailments in 2025.
While that may cause some bettors to hesitate, it also creates a buy-low situation. McCullers looked electric facing Chicago and draws another great matchup on Sunday. The Athletics have drawn the fewest walks (22) and logged the second-most strikeouts (93) and in the American League. They struggle to get on base and have allowed an opposing starter to toss more than five innings in six of their eight games. Trust McCullers to work quickly and efficiently.
Luis Castillo Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-122)
Consistency is key in strikeout markets, and Luis Castillo is as consistent as they come. The Seattle right-hander has racked up the fifth-most strikeouts (1,011) and the seventh-most starts (166) in the Majors since the start of the 2020 season. Castillo began 2026 by recording six strikeouts against the Yankees. It was noteworthy since New York chases pitches at the second-lowest rate (25.4%) and barrels baseballs at the third-highest rate (11.3%).
Castillo was able to confuse several All-Star bats ahead of a much more favorable clash on Sunday afternoon. The Los Angeles Angels’ lineup has registered the most strikeouts (95) while producing the seventh-highest whiff rate (31.4%) in the sport. This comes after the Angels finished with the most strikeouts in the league last year (1,627). This is a line Castillo could cash by the third or fourth inning if his command is on point.
Brandon Lowe to Hit a Home Run (+432)
Sometimes a batter has a pitcher’s number. That is the case between Pittsburgh’s Brandon Lowe and Baltimore’s Chris Bassitt. Lowe is an impressive 11-for-20 with four home runs, two doubles, and 10 RBI versus Bassitt. The only player with more homers off the 12th-year pro is Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (5). Lowe has been a top power threat through seven games, leading the Pirates with five extra-base knocks (three jacks).
This selection isn’t boiled down to solely prior meetings, though. Bassitt has been taken deep at least once in eight of his previous 13 away starts, and his career ERA jumps from 3.02 at home to 4.27 on the road. Meanwhile, Lowe has been a top-50 hitter in launch angle sweet-spot percentage and barrel rate during the past two campaigns. Backing Lowe to post more than 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs at -125 odds is another enticing option here.