For baseball drama and storylines, it doesn’t get much better than the Subway Series, so the rubber match between the New York Yankees and New York Mets naturally headlines today’s slate.
My MLB player props target that matchup with a wager on Cody Bellinger, and I also see Kevin Gausman dealing in Detroit to ease the pressure on the Toronto Blue Jays.
Read on for my Top 3 MLB prop picks for the May 17 action.
Best MLB player props today
| Player | Pick | Odds |
|---|---|---|
 Cody Bellinger |
Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs | -110 |
 Kevin Gausman |
Over 5.5 strikeouts | -112 |
 Mookie Betts |
Over 1.5 total bases | +105 |
Cody Bellinger Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-110)
Cody Bellinger has come alive this month after a slow April, and that’s helping to fuel a New York Yankees offense that’s in the Top 5 in runs and OBP. He’s posted a .304 batting average in May, to go with a 1.010 OPS.
Bellinger chipped in with an RBI double in the Bronx Bombers’ win on Friday night, and I like this matchup against New York Mets starter Freddy Peralta.
Though Peralta has been steady so far this year, Bellinger has had the upper hand in their head-to-head duels, with a career 6-for-14 record against the Mets righty, including a double, a homer and three RBIs.
- Time: 1:40 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: YES, SNY
Kevin Gausman Over 5.5 strikeouts (-112)
The Toronto Blue Jays are fighting to stay afloat after a barrage of injuries, and that makes every Kevin Gausman start even more valuable.
The veteran’s strikeout tallies have tailed off after racking up 21 Ks across his first two outings of 2026, but this O/U number feels too low and I’m jumping on the Over against a Detroit Tigers lineup that he’s dominated over the years.
Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry are a combined 6-for-36 against Gausman, while striking out 11 times. The Toronto ace has a 3.16 career ERA against Detroit, and I’m counting on a bounce-back effort here after a rocky start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
- Time: 1:40 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: DSN, Sportsnet
Mookie Betts Over 1.5 total bases (+105)
After the Los Angeles Dodgers exploded for 15 runs yesterday against the cross-city Angels, I’m buying into a key piece of that offense tonight. Mookie Betts served up a homer and a single in last night’s rout, and that’s the surest sign yet that his oblique strain is behind him.
It was Betts’ second dinger of the week, and I like these odds for 2+ bases here, especially with Angels starter Grayson Rodriguez just returning from the 15-day IL.
Though Betts has struggled to post elite numbers this year, there’s been no dip in his exit velocity and he’s done his best work against righties on the road. Look for that trend to continue tonight.
- Time: 4:07 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: SNLA, KCOP-FOX11+
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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