MLB Today’s Best Bets for May 23: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

We're back to break down the best MLB bets today for May 23! But keep a close eye on the weather before placing any wagers, as there are a ton of potential washouts in play today. Our MLB picks feature two strikeout unders from a pair of arms pitching against tough lineups, plus home run picks today in Atlanta, where we're celebrating Jake Irvin Day once again.

Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for May 23

Freddy Peralta under 5.5 strikeouts at -130 on FanDuel Sportsbook is my top MLB bet today as the New York Mets battle the Miami Marlins. This would have been a punching-bag matchup for strikeouts a couple of years ago, but things have changed on both sides of this equation.

Miami's lineup has quietly transformed. The Marlins own the seventh-best strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season, and the top of their order is legitimately pesky. Xavier Edwards and Liam Hendriks feature strikeout rates below 10% against right-handed pitching this season.

Meanwhile, Peralta is striking out just around 23% of batters in 2026, which is a tick above league average per Baseball Savant. Peralta is an average strikeout pitcher in 2026, and he'll take on an improved Miami lineup.

Best Bet: Freddy Peralta Under 5.5 Strikeouts FanDuel, -130

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MLB Player Props Today: Paul Skenes Under 6.5 Strikeouts

Paul Skenes under 6.5 strikeouts at -108 is my next MLB player prop today. Make no mistake, Skenes is probably the best pitcher in baseball. His advanced metrics are through the roof, and he ranks in the 93rd percentile in strikeout rate per Baseball Savant.

Skenes can go off in any game at any moment, but what I admire about Skenes is that he doesn't need to punch out every batter to be dominant. And against Toronto on Saturday, he may not be able to anyway. The Blue Jays own the best strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers in baseball this season at 19.2%, and they've been just as stingy in the month of May.

Skenes is competitive in nearly every start, but this may be a game where he focuses on hitting his spots rather than racking up strikeouts. The -108 price on the under is more than fair.

Best Bet: Paul Skenes Under 6.5 Strikeouts FanDuel, -108

Home Run Picks Today: Matt Olson 

Welcome back to Jake Irvin Day! If you've been following this column, you know the drill. Irvin gave up 38 home runs last season, and 26 of them came off left-handed bats. Irvin hasn't been much better in 2026. He ranks in just the ninth percentile in barrel rate and 10th percentile in hard-hit rate per Baseball Savant. Meanwhile, he's allowing a .263 expected ISO against left-handed hitters this season. Everything points toward fly balls leaving the yard.

Matt Olson at +310 to hit a home run is my favorite home run pick today. Olson has a .322 ISO against right-handed pitching this season to go along with 14 home runs. He is exactly the kind of left-handed power bat you want to be targeting in a matchup like this. The plus-money price makes it even better.

Best Bet: Matt Olson to Hit a Home Run FanDuel, +310

Good luck on Saturday. Let's cash these MLB bets today!