MLB Today’s Best Bets for 05/17: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

It’s a full 15-game slate on the diamond to finish off your weekend Sunday, starting at 12:15 pm ET when the Marlins close a weekend set with the Rays at Tropicana Field. The schedule gives plenty of opportunities to find the best MLB bets today, including the top home run props. After looking over the slate, we’ve identified our favorite plays to bolster your bankroll. Without further ado, let’s get to the best options on the board for Sunday, May 17.

Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for May 17

Zack Wheeler, Phillies Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+105, Fanatics)

Wheeler makes his fifth start of the season for the Phillies here and is off to a strong start. He’s thrown at least six innings in each of his last three starts. Wheeler has 22 punchouts over 24.2 innings of work on the year. Current Pirates hitters have posted a paltry .175 average over 120 at-bats against him in his career. Wheeler recorded 49 whiffs in those 120 at-bats, a massive 40.8% K percentage. Pittsburgh logs the fourth-most strikeouts (9.17) per game this season. That means Wheeler is in good shape to blow past this number. That seems doubly true after Cristopher Sanchez had 13 strikeouts in a complete game win Saturday.

Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-112, FanDuel)

Gausman started the year strong, fanning 11 hitters in his first start against the Athletics. He followed that up with 10 whiffs in six frames against Colorado in his second start. Things have trended down in the strikeout department since that point. Gausman hasn’t logged more than five punchouts in any of his last seven starts. Gausman has good numbers against current Tigers hitters, limiting them to a .164 average with 26 strikeouts over 67 at-bats. However, given the fact that his strikeout numbers are down, it’s tough seeing him exceed the number here. This isn’t the free-swinging Tigers squads of old. Therefore, take the under here.

Junior Caminero, Rays Over 1.5 Total Bases (+115, Fanatics)

Caminero has slowed down a bit after a torrid start to the year. He enters this game hitting .253 with four doubles,11 homers and 21 RBI on the year. Caminero had a pair of hits in Saturday’s loss and has 10 in his last 10 games. He has 17 total bases in his last 10 games and has cleared this prop in four games in that span. In his career, Caminero has seven homers in 38 career games at Tropicana Field. He hasn’t faced Eury Perez in his career but after a solid showing Saturday, look for Caminero to finish the weekend on a positive note with a couple of knocks.

Home Run Picks Today:

Yordan Alvarez, Astros (FanDuel, +285)

Alvarez has a solid power bat and he gets a crack at a good hitters’ park at home at Daikin Park. For the year, he has a .322 average, 11 doubles, 15 homers and 31 RBI on the year. That included a home run in the series finale against Seattle Thursday and another against the Rangers Saturday. In addition, Alvarez is hot against Eovaldi in his career. He is 12 of 20 with three doubles, two homers and six RBI. Alvarez owns a .600/.654/1.050 slash line against Eovaldi. Given his success against Eovaldi and his penchant to hammer the ball at home, he’s a prime candidate to go yard.

Matt Olson (+322, DraftKings)

Olson has plenty of pop in his bat and playing at home in warm temperatures certainly helps. He has a .281 average with 15 doubles, 14 homers and 37 RBI on the year. Facing Brayan Bello, who is 2-4 with a 6.46 ERA and who surrendered eight homers in 39 innings of work, is a good matchup. Olson is two of eight in his career against Bello. He has a .266 average with 73 homers and 219 RBI in 346 games at Truist Park. This season, he hits .294 with seven doubles, four homers and 15 RBI at home. Therefore, look for him to rough up Bello in this contest, putting one in the seats.