MLB Player Props & Bets: Thursday (3/26)
It's Opening Day in Major League Baseball, and the league follows up its standalone Yankees versus Giants game on Wednesday with a loaded 11-game schedule today. In honor of baseball being back in action, I'm celebrating by locking in a player prop for each of the 11 games. Here are my top MLB player props for Thursday, March 26th.
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Thursday's Top MLB Player Props
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Paul Skenes Under 6.5 Strikeouts (-131)
I'm going to do the unthinkable and take Paul Skenes to stay under his strikeout total. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner made 32 starts last season, averaging 6.8 strikeouts per start and going 14-18 to the under at a line of 6.5 punchouts.
Skenes faced the Mets once, finishing with six strikeouts in six innings of one-run baseball. He'll take on a New York squad that posted the ninth-lowest strikeout rate (21.4%) in 2025.
Christian Yelich Under 0.5 Hits (+158)
Shane Smith gets the nod for the White Sox, and he's coming off a solid rookie campaign where he posted a 3.81 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The right-hander has faced Christian Yelich in the past, holding him to 0-for-3 (.000) with a couple of strikeouts.
Yelich was ice cold in the Cactus League this spring, slashing an ugly .125/.282/.313 with 15 strikeouts over 32 at-bats. Let's take Yelich to go hitless at +158 odds.
Matthew Boyd Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+116)
I'll fade Matthew Boyd in Thursday's opener, taking him to stay under 4.5 strikeouts against the Nationals. Washington's current roster is 8-for-32 (.250) against the left-hander, with only two strikeouts across those 32 at-bats.
Furthermore, we just saw Boyd get lit up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, posting an 11.57 ERA in only 2.1 innings of work. It's early in the season, so perhaps the Chicago hurler won't work deep into the game either.
Joe Ryan Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+120)
I love this matchup for Minnesota's Joe Ryan. The Twins ace is coming off a big season, where he amassed 194 punchouts (15th) in 30 starts. The right-hander draws a matchup against a Baltimore offense that finished last year with the third-highest strikeout rate (24.2%).
Only the Rockies (25.9%) and Angels (27.1%) were worse. In terms of the head-to-head numbers, Ryan has owned the Orioles, accumulating 21 strikeouts and holding them to a .200 batting average over 55 at-bats.
Kerry Carpenter Under 0.5 Hits (+136)
Give me Detroit's Kerry Carpenter to go hitless in his 2026 debut. He'll be squaring off again Nick Pivetta, who provided some much-needed stability in San Diego's rotation last season with a 2.87 ERA (10th), a 0.99 WHIP (fifth) and 190 strikeouts (16th).
Carpenter is 0-for-3 (.000) against Pivetta in his career, and he's coming off a spring training where he hit just .167 across 48 at-bats. Factor in that San Diego's bullpen is widely regarded as the best in the Majors, and it could be tough sledding for Carpenter and Detroit's offense in the opener.
Jose Soriano Over 14.5 Outs Recorded (-111)
I'm backing Los Angeles' Jose Soriano in this Opening Day spot on Thursday. The right-hander made 31 starts in 2025, throwing five or more innings (15+ outs) on 22 occasions. That includes two starts against the Astros, where Soriano limited the divisional foes to two combined runs across 13.2 innings of work.
Houston's current roster is slashing just .172/.273/.171 against Soriano over 29 at-bats. Let's take Soriano's over on outs recorded at this deflated number of 14.5.
Matt McLain Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (+120)
Cincinnati's current roster has found decent success against Garrett Crochet in the past, slashing .300/.344/.400 against him over 30 at-bats. Specifically, Matt McLain is 2-for-3 (.667) with a double and an RBI.
The middle infielder is coming off a monster spring training, where he hit .509 with a 1.540 OPS and seven home runs. This Reds lineup has some sneaky pop. Let's take McLain to clear his combined hits + home runs + RBIs line of 1.5 at +120 odds.
Junior Caminero 1+ Home Runs (+294)
I typically don't bet the home run market, as I think it's nerfed and there's no value to be found. However, I will make an exception and play Junior Caminero to hit a nuke on Thursday. Caminero launched 45 big flies (sixth) last season, and he picked up right where he left off in the World Baseball Classic this spring, hitting three tanks with the Dominican Republic.
Caminero faces Matthew Liberatore today, who registered a modest 1.13 HR/9 rate last season. We'll also have 15 miles per hour (MPH) winds flying out to right field. At nearly 3-to-1 odds, it's worth taking a flier on Caminero to touch’em all.
Nathan Eovaldi Over 16.5 Outs Recorded (-111)
Even though there is some power in these lineups, I could easily see this being a pitching duel between Cristopher Sanchez and Nathan Eovaldi. The Texas hurler continues to be a workhorse, and he's coming off a 2025 campaign where he logged 17+ outs in 16 of his 22 starts.
Eovaldi has held Philadelphia's current roster in check, limiting them to a slash line of .242/.299/403 over 62 at-bats. Working into the sixth inning should be light work for the veteran. He's one of the only pitchers in the game who's willing to throw nine innings anymore. Let's back Eovaldi to clear this number.
Kyle Tucker Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (+108)
At first, I was surprised to see the Diamondbacks as +209 favorites. But we have to remember that Zac Gallen is coming off a rough season, posting a 4.83 ERA (45th) in 33 starts. I'll play Kyle Tucker to eclipse 1.5 combined hits + runs + RBIs in this matchup.
Tucker is a solid 6-for-18 (.333) with two doubles and a triple against Gallen. He should reach base once or twice, and with superstars all around him in the lineup, he should have chances to drive in runs or be brought home by someone else.
Tanner Bibee Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-165)
Let's close it out with Cleveland's Tanner Bibee to go over 4.5 strikeouts against Seattle. For starters, the Mariners finished 2025 with the seventh-highest strikeout rate (23.3%). They averaged 8.9 strikeouts per game offensively.
Bibee posted a respectable eight K/9 last season, finishing 35th in the Majors with 162 total punchouts. As for the head-to-head numbers, the M's are just 9-for-45 (.200) against Bibee with 11 strikeouts. Pitching should win the day in this game, and I'll take Bibee to log at least five strikeouts in his 2026 debut.