Player props have become one of baseball’s most entertaining ways to bet, offering value well beyond the moneyline, run line, or game total. Each day, this column highlights the best opportunities on the board — from strikeouts and hits to total bases and pitcher outs recorded — using matchup data, recent form, and betting trends to identify edges. Keep reading for the top MLB player prop picks for May 26. Also, make sure you check out our live VSiN programming for more. Our hosts and analysts will be all over the MLB, which is why it pays to be a VSiN Pro subscriber.
MORE: Check out the VSiN Pro Picks page for more bets from our talented hosts and analysts!
Tuesday Player Prop Best Bets
Below you’ll find my official plays on the player prop market for Tuesday. These are the ones that make the VSiN Pro Picks page and count towards my season-long record. I’ll write three up per day, but I’ll add additional ones in an “Additional Best Bets” section. I go lighter on baseball than I do other sports. My MLB units are 50% of what my normal units are.
Braxton Ashcraft Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-110) vs. Cubs
Cubs at Pirates – 6:40 pm ET
It should be no secret to anyone that has been reading this, or has heard me explain my new player prop process when talking NBA on Hardwood Handicappers, that I like to compare US shops to Pinnacle to see where some value might lie. Well, this is one in which there’s a difference of 43 cents, meaning we’re getting some great value on Ashcraft to have 6+ strikeouts at -110. Realistically, a difference of 25+ cents has been the sweet spot this year. On top of the price looking right, Ashcraft has also been awesome as a swing-and-miss guy this year. He comes into this start having racked up at least six strikeouts in seven of his last nine starts. And while Chicago isn’t a team with the highest K%, Ashcraft already took advantage of this matchup earlier in the year. He had nine strikeouts against the Cubs on April 11. I’m not expecting another outing like that, but sign me up for six.
Mike Trout Over 1.5 Total Bases (+118) vs. Tigers
Angels at Tigers – 6:40 pm ET
I usually do my best to go with righties hitting against lefties, or lefties hitting against righties. However, I do occasionally make exceptions. Tonight, I’m making one for Trout. This season, the star has actually been great when going up against right-handed pitching in road games. In 16 road games against right-handed starters, Trout is averaging 2.8 total bases per game. Trout is also coming off a strong series against the Rangers. He went 4 for 12 with a double, a homer, and three RBIs. With Trout riding a nice wave coming into this game, I’ll take my chances with him to come through with a big hit — or multiple hits — against Keider Montero, who hasn’t quite realized his full potential to this point.
Spencer Strider Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+140) vs. Red Sox
Braves at Red Sox – 6:45 pm ET
Strider isn’t exactly a “system match” for me, but I continue to believe he’s being underrated in the market. It’s pretty clear that Strider’s stuff is looking good, as he’s averaging 6.8 strikeouts per game, his Whiff% is in the 99th percentile, and his spin rates look strong compared to some of his best seasons. Well, with that being the case, it’s hard to turn down Strider at his current odds. Seven is definitely a higher mark than you’d like to be rooting for in a game, but the Red Sox have the eighth-highest strikeout rate (22.9%) in baseball against righties. This is a matchup in which we should see Strider get himself going.
Additional Picks
Joey Cantillo Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-160 – 1.5 units) & Alt Strikeouts 6+ (+130 – 0.5 units) & Alt Strikeouts 7+ (+270 – 2.5 units) vs. Nationals
Cedric Mullins Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (+120) vs. Orioles
Chase Burns Under 17.5 Outs Recorded (+104) vs. Mets
Brandon Nimmo Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-125) vs. Astros
Jeff McNeil Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (+103) vs. Mariners
Bryce Harper Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-112) vs. Padres – This got voided last night and I want another crack at it.
Tyler Mahle Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+113) vs. Diamondbacks
Noteworthy OptaAI Player Prop Edges
Check out the BRAND NEW OptaAI Player Props MLB pages for more of these! VSiN Pro subscribers can find 50+ player prop ideas on a daily basis! We’ll list the top edges in some of the biggest markets below, but there will always be a lot more to uncover on the pages themselves.
Andres Chaparro Over 0.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-140) vs. Guardians
Our OptaAI player prop projections have him going for 1.71 hits, runs, and RBIs, suggesting these odds should be -450 — a +23.5% edge to the Over.
MJ Melendez Over 0.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-107) vs. Reds
Our OptaAI player prop projections have him finishing with 1.38 hits, runs, and RBIs, suggesting these odds should be -297 — a +23.1% edge to the Over.
Alec Burleson Over 1.5 Total Bases (+161) vs. Brewers
Our OptaAI player prop projections have him projected for 2.02 total bases, suggesting these odds should be -150 — a +21.7% edge to the Over.
