Sundays around the MLB are usually jam-packed days with early start times. The schedule for Sunday, May 5, is no different. Every team is expected to be in action, but 10 of the 15 games will have a first pitch before 2:30 p.m. ET. While bettors have plenty of player prop bets to choose from, the early start time can eliminate options. To cut down on your time analyzing matchups and lines, here are our best MLB prop bets for Sunday’s slate, with odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Teddy Ricketson’s 2024 MLB Player Prop record: 33-32-3
Friday recap: I finished 2-1 on Friday. Sonny Gray pitched seven shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox, easily clearing his recorded outline of 17.5. Tanner Houck showed why it could be beneficial to sacrifice odds to cover more outcomes, as he missed the over on his 5.5 strikeout line but hit on the alt. line of 5+, which we took. The lone miss was Mookie Betts going hitless against the Atlanta Braves. He leads the league in batting average but is now just 1-13 in the three games I have taken him to get a hit.
MLB player prop bets: Sunday, May 5
Garrett Crochet, over 5.5 strikeouts (-135)
Crochet’s season as a starter hasn’t been a great transition as he heads into Sunday’s matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 1-4 record and a 5.97 ERA. Despite those numbers, he has tallied 47 strikeouts in his 34.2 innings of work, tied for the eighth-most in the league. It felt like this was a “get right” series for St. Louis, and they lost to the league-worst 7-26 Chicago White Sox on Saturday, striking out nine times. Crochet should be able to punch out six on Sunday.
Travis d’Arnaud, over 0.5 hits (-190)
d’Arnaud is hitting .269 this season with five home runs and 16 RBI. He went hitless in the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers but 1-3 with a double and a run in Saturday’s loss. In Sunday’s series finale, he and the Atlanta Braves will take on James Paxton (3-0, 3.51 ERA). The 35-year-old southpaw has been solid against right-handed hitters, giving up just a .208 opposing batting average. d’Arnaud is hitting .467 against lefties this season and heads into Sunday’s matchup 3-7 with a double and two home runs against Paxton in his career.
Hunter Brown, over 3.5 hits allowed (-130)
Brown has allowed at least four hits in each of his six starts this season. He has an alternate hits allowed line of 3+ at -245, and while I normally am happy to sacrifice odds for coverage, he would have to have his best start of the year for the under to hit on his overall line. Seattle beat the Houston Astros on Saturday, knocking Framber Valdez out of the game after 5.1 innings and nine hits. Brown should allow at least four hits on Sunday.