MLB Today’s Best Bets for May 20: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

Written By Justin Carlucci | Published at May 20, 2026
May 19, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Wednesday's MLB slate is loaded with player prop angles and home run picks today in hot-hitting weather. Our MLB best bets today hit two strikeout props and a pair of home run bets at Citizens Bank Park. Here are the best MLB picks today for Wednesday, May 20!

Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for May 20

Trey Yesavage over 5.5 strikeouts at -120 on DraftKings Sportsbook is my top MLB bet today. The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Yankee Stadium to take on the New York Yankees in the Bronx. The Blue Jays still have him on a bit of a leash, but he threw 88 pitches in his last outing and has covered this 5.5 number in three straight starts.

The Yankees rank fourth in wRC+ against right-handed pitching in baseball, but they're also striking out against righties at the fifth-highest clip in the league, according to FanGraphs.

Yesavage ranks in the 90th percentile in whiff rate, 76th percentile in chase rate, and does a fantastic job keeping the ball on the ground. Give me Yesavage to squeak by this number in about 90 pitches tonight.

Best Bet: Trey Yesavage Over 5.5 Strikeouts DraftKings, -120

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MLB Player Props Today: Edward Cabrera Under 5.5 Strikeouts

Edward Cabrera under 5.5 strikeouts at -140 on BetMGM Sportsbook is one of my favorite MLB player props today as the Chicago Cubs visit the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cabrera might be due for some positive regression. The Cubs' ace ranks in the 84th percentile in chase rate and 64th percentile in whiff rate, but just the 44th percentile in strikeout rate per Baseball Savant.

However, the Brewers own the lowest chase percentage of any team in baseball. Additionally, Milwaukee is striking out against right-handed pitching at the third-lowest clip in the league at 19.9%. Milwaukee is as disciplined at the plate, which is a big reason they're in the NL Central race every season. Give me Cabrera to land at five strikeouts or fewer against a quality opponent today.

Best Bet: Edward Cabrera Under 5.5 Strikeouts BetMGM, -140

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Home Run Picks Today: Elly De La Cruz & JJ Bleday

Let's dive into my home run picks today. Temperatures are heating up across the country, and nowhere more so than Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The temps are projected to be north of 90 degrees at first pitch, with feel-like temperatures pushing toward 100. All bats are live in this environment.

Aaron Nola gets the start for the Phillies. Left-handed hitters have posted a .236 ISO against him this season. Nola is throwing his fastball roughly a third of the time to lefties and surrendering an ISO north of .400 on that pitch. Elly De La Cruz at +410 on FanDuel Sportsbook is my top home run pick today from the left side of the plate in this matchup.

JJ Bleday at +360 is my second home run pick today. Bleday has been outstanding in 2026 with a .236 ISO against right-handed pitching and a .290 ISO against right-handed fastballs. Meanwhile, Andrew Abbott starts on the other side for Cincinnati and has struggled to punch out hitters, which keeps every bat for the Phillies in play.

Best Bet: Elly De La Cruz to Hit a Home Run FanDuel, +410

Best Bet: JJ Bleday to Hit a Home Run FanDuel, +360

Good luck on Wednesday!

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