Only five games are on the MLB schedule for Thursday, April 18. Most teams are traveling to the sites for the respective weekend series that begins on Friday. This limits the number of options bettors have to wager on, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some advantageous lines. Here are our favorite player prop bets for Thursday’s action, with odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Teddy Ricketson’s 2024 MLB Player Prop record: 17-18-2
MLB player prop bets: Thursday, April 18
Michael Conforto, over 0.5 hits (-210)
Conforto is riding a four-game hit streak and has a good matchup on Friday against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson. He enters the day 3-7 against him in his career with a double and a home run. Conforto has been better in lefty-lefty matchups this year, so even if Arizona brings in a southpaw out of the pen for the advantage, it actually favors Conforto, giving more upside that he continues his hitting streak on Thursday.
Jack Leiter, over 4.5 strikeouts (-135)
Update: Leiter punched out two in the first inning and then got absolutely rocked by the Tigers. He only struck out one more batter before getting pulled early. This bet misses.
Leiter, the former No. 2 overall pick, will make his MLB debut against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. While there may be concern about nerves, rookies making their pitching debut tend to fare better because the hitters do not have that personal experience against them. Detroit has the ninth-most strikeouts as a team this year, giving Leiter a great chance at hitting this over.
Michael Busch, over 0.5 total bases (-140)
Update: This game was rained out and will be made up on Saturday. If you had bet this, it will push.
Busch’s streak of games with a home run has ended, but he is still swinging the bat well to begin the season. He heads into Thursday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins slashing .317/.400/.667. Busch hasn’t faced Miami’s starter, A.J. Puk, yet in his career, but has at least one total base in seven of his last eight games and in 12 of the 15 games he has played in April.