MLB Today’s Best Bets for April 22: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props
We've got baseball stacked throughout Wednesday, and these are the best MLB bets today for April 22. We're hitting a strikeout under on a returning Cubs' arm, and we'll take a look at home run picks today against a struggling pitcher in Washington. Let's get to the player props!
Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for April 22
Matthew Boyd under 5.5 strikeouts is one of my MLB best bets today at -122 on DraftKings Sportsbook. This is mostly a workload play.
Boyd is making his return from the injured list after missing three weeks, and his Triple-A Iowa rehab start with the Chicago Cubs featured just 64 pitches, according to Baseball Reference. I'm not expecting Chicago to let him push much past 85 pitches. They need him for the long haul, and the logical move is to ease him back into action. Fewer pitches means fewer opportunities to rack up strikeouts, plain and simple.
The underlying profile doesn't make you want to bet over here either. Per Baseball Savant, Boyd ranked in just the 41st percentile in strikeout rate and the 30th percentile in whiff rate last season. He's flashed big strikeout games before, but those are the outliers.
The Phillies have also struggled offensively this season, and in a small sample, a couple of their usual starters have actually been striking out less against lefties this season compared to last year. Pitch count concerns, plus a small sample, a below-average strikeout profile, make this one of my favorite MLB player props today.
Best Bet: Matthew Boyd Under 5.5 Strikeouts DraftKings, -122
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly! MLB Player Props Today: Drake Baldwin Over 1.5 Total Bases
Drake Baldwin over 1.5 total bases is one of the best MLB player props today at -115 on FanDuel Sportsbook, and Washington Nationals starter Zack Littell is part of the reason why.
Littell has been getting absolutely torched by left-handed batters so far in 2026. He's striking out roughly 11% of them, and is allowing an expected ISO of .341 against lefties, per Baseball Savant. Lefty hitters are posting monster power numbers against his two most-used pitches — his fastball and his slider.
To put Littell's overall profile in perspective: he ranks in the 12th percentile or worse in barrel rate, hard-hit rate, whiff rate, average exit velocity, expected batting average, and expected ERA this season. He's arguably been one of the worst pitchers in baseball this season.
Baldwin posted a .204 ISO against right-handed pitchers last season and absolutely crushed right-handed fastballs. That's exactly what Littell is serving up. Even after Littell exits, it doesn't get better. The Nationals' bullpen carries a 5.51 ERA and has already surrendered 22 home runs this season.
Matt Olson is another name worth watching in this spot. Temperatures in D.C. are projected to be north of 70 degrees at first pitch, so the quality hitting weather adds to the appeal.
Best Bet: Drake Baldwin Over 1.5 Total Bases FanDuel, -115
Home Run Picks Today: Matt Olson
For my MLB home run bets today, Matt Olson is the play against Littell and this Nationals' bullpen. Olson's Baseball Savant page is plastered with elite indicators. He ranks in the 95th percentile in barrel rate and expected slugging percentage, with his expected slugging percentage at a career-high .602 in 2026. He also sits in the 81st percentile in bat speed. Great hitter, great weather, great matchup.
Best Bet: Matt Olson to Hit a Home Run FanDuel, +330
That's a wrap for today's MLB best bets. Good luck on Wednesday!
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