MLB Today’s Best Bets for April 3: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

We have plenty of MLB bets today after just three games on Thursday. If you're looking for home run picks today and more baseball betting angles for Friday, April 3, we've got you covered. There's a loaded slate with plenty of player props and MLB home run bets today to sort through. It's a treat that we have a ton of afternoon games on a Friday, so let's get right to the picks.

Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for April 3

Emmet Sheehan of the Los Angeles Dodgers makes my list of MLB player props today, and I'm going over 5.5 strikeouts at -132 on FanDuel Sportsbook. I'm trusting the talent here. Sheehan has been a breakout candidate since last season, and it's been full steam ahead heading into 2026. He got touched up a bit in his first start against Arizona, but he threw over 80 pitches, which is a good sign.

According to Baseball Savant, Sheehan ranked in the 91st percentile or better in chase percentage and strikeout percentage in 2025. That's some killer stuff. On the other side, this young Nationals lineup has some vulnerabilities. James Wood struck out over 30% of the time against righties last year. Brady House struck out 27% of the time against righties in over 190 plate appearances. And Joey Wiemer, despite a blazing start, has struck out 40% of the time in a very limited sample size in 2026. There are enough whiff-prone hitters for Sheehan to feast on, so this prop is one of my favorite MLB bets today.

Best Bet: Emmet Sheehan Over 5.5 Strikeouts FanDuel, -132

MLB Player Props: Cade Horton Over 3.5 Strikeouts

Cade Horton of the Chicago Cubs is next on my best MLB bets today list, and I'm taking over 3.5 strikeouts on DraftKings Sportsbook at -130. Horton has been one of the Cubs' most prized prospects, and he had a fantastic second half to 2025. He didn't have the best swing-and-miss stuff last season, ranking in just the 65th percentile in chase percentage via Baseball Savant. But he had a massive spring and flashed all that brilliant stuff we saw at times through the Cubs' system.

In his first start against the Nationals, Horton struck out four, pitched extremely well, gave up just six hits, and threw 75 pitches. The bigger thing? He ranked in the 92nd percentile in chase percentage in that outing. He also had a couple of monster spring games, and I believe he's continued to make changes that have helped him gain more swing-and-miss stuff. I would expect this line to move to 4.5 as we get closer to first pitch. If you're hunting for today's top MLB player prop picks, this is one of the sharper ones on the slate.

Best Bet: Cade Horton Over 3.5 Strikeouts DraftKings, -130

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Home Run Picks Today: Jose Altuve

Now for my MLB home run bets today. We're going to pick on Athletics' pitcher Jeffrey Springs. He threw his fastball over 40% of the time to righties last season, and they logged an expected ISO of .243 against that pitch. In fact, Springs gave up 25 home runs to right-handed hitters in 2025. Pretty much any right-handed Astros bat is viable for home run picks today. You can get a guy like Cam Smith around +750, who has shown serious pop in the minors and in his MLB cup of coffee against lefties.

But I like Jose Altuve here at +460 on FanDuel Sportsbook. He's swinging a hot bat to start the season and hit seven home runs in just 111 at-bats against left-handed pitchers last year. According to AddMoreFunds, across 106 plate appearances in 2024 and 2025, Altuve logged a .266 ISO against left-handed fastballs, and he should see a ton of them from Springs on Friday. These are great odds and a fantastic matchup, making Altuve one of today's top MLB HR picks.

Best Bet: Jose Altuve to Hit a Home Run FanDuel, +460

That wraps up my best MLB bets today. Good luck, and have a great Friday!

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