The 2026 MLB season has been nothing short of thrilling as playoff races heat up. Veteran sluggers are blasting off, skilled rookies are becoming household names and elite pitchers are prevailing on the mound. The fun continues on Sunday with all 30 teams in action. Here's a look at three MLB player props for Sunday, August 23rd.
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Sunday’s Best MLB Player Props & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Shane Baz Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-128)
Tampa Bay excels at perfecting the little details, such as plate discipline. The Rays have posted the lowest whiff rate (20.6%), the highest chase-contact rate (67.4%) and the third-highest zone-contact rate (85.7%) in the Majors.
Simply put, they know how to keep at-bats alive by limiting swings and misses. That focused mindset has helped Tampa Bay accumulate the fewest strikeouts of any MLB offense (913).
Baltimore’s Shane Baz certainly has his work cut out for him on Sunday. The Texas native has registered a career-low 21.2% strikeout rate this season, tallying fewer than six strikeouts in six of his 12 home starts.
The knuckle curve has been Baz’s strikeout pitch in the past. Opponents are batting .290 on that pitch in 2026, though. That average is significantly up from his .214 mark in 2025. Expect a lot of balls put into play at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Shota Imanaga Over 17.5 Outs Recorded (-130)
Shota Imanaga has settled into a groove. The Japanese southpaw has conceded two or fewer runs in seven of his previous nine outings. Take note that he recorded at least 18 outs in five of those nine performances.
An impressively low walk rate (5.5%) and high chase rate (35.5%) have guided Imanaga through clean frames for the Cubs time and time again. A matchup with the Mariners at T-Mobile Park looms on Sunday afternoon.
Manager Dan Wilson’s squad has logged baseball’s lowest OPS versus left-handed pitching (.639) and the second-lowest on-base percentage (OBP) at home (.307). Those struggles facing lefties include grounding into 34 double plays, the highest total in the American League.
The first two Chicago starters have gone six innings during this series. Back Imanaga to make it three for three.
Fernando Tatis Jr. to Hit a Home Run (+310)
The Padres hold a National League Wild Card spot thanks in part to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s second-half turnaround. The outfielder has slashed a stellar .306/.406/.636 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI since the All-Star break.
Power remains one of Tatis’ key skills, as he ranks as a top-12 pro in hard-hit rate (53.1%) and average exit velocity (92.7 miles per hour). He also boasts the sixth-highest batting average in home games among MLB hitters (.323).
Up next for Tatis is a showdown with Minnesota’s Bailey Ober. The veteran right-hander has surrendered a home run in five of his eight road starts. Not only that, but Ober sports a fly-ball rate above the league average for the fifth straight campaign (30.7%).
It’s a dangerous trend when battling strong, fast swings. That was proven when Tatis took Ober deep in his first at-bat against him in 2023. Bank on history repeating itself on Sunday.
