The Braves host the Athletics at Truist Park. The game starts at 7:15 PM ET on Monday, March 30, 2026, and will be broadcast on NBCS-CA.
I have an MLB Player Prop for this game. Read the analysis below.
MLB Player Props: Koerner's Strikeout Prop for Braves-Athletics
Jacob Lopez Under 5.5 Strikeouts
This prop feels high for Jacob Lopez’s Opening Day for a few reasons.
He’s a finesse lefty whose fastball sits around 90 to 91 MPH, but he does a great job keeping hitters off balance, which is why his strikeout rate tends to hold steady in the second and third times through the order.
But because of that, a lower pitch count hurts Lopez more than the average pitcher.
The matchup doesn’t help. The Braves’ projected lineup is the seventh-toughest to strike out in the league, per my projections. Having a low strikeout bat like Mauricio Dubon in there this year only reinforces my numbers.
They’re also an aggressive lineup that swings at a high rate, making this a slightly tougher matchup for a guy like Lopez, who relies more on getting hitters to take strikes.
The four-to-six hitters are Lopez’s best stretch to rack up the Ks, but I have him getting pulled right before seeing that pocket a third time. Maybe the A’s let Lopez see Matt Olson for a third time in the lefty-lefty matchup, but I expect Lopez to get pulled before facing Austin Riley, which caps Lopez’s upside.
Lopez has a solid floor, and exactly five strikeouts is his most likely outcome, which I have projected at around a 20% chance.
However, there are a few subtle factors that limit his chances of reaching six Ks.
Pick: Jacob Lopez Under 5.5 Strikeouts
