After the New York Yankees opened the 2026 season with a victory on Wednesday night, it's time for the rest of the league to get in on the action.
So, without further ado, let's dive into my MLB player props for Opening Day on Thursday, March 26
MLB Player Props Thursday, March 26: Opening Day
- Joe Ryan Under 6.5 Strikeouts (-140, bet365)
- Trevor Story 2+ Total Bases (-106, DraftKings)
- Zac Gallen Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-135, bet365)
Best Twins vs Orioles Prop Bet
Joe Ryan is one of the most questionable Opening Day starters on the slate. His range of outcomes is wide, as we've seen his potential for seasons now where he can rack up strikeouts and work into the sixth innings consistently.
However, he did not have a great Spring Training by any means. Ryan was and may still be battling a back injury that kept him from pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
While he did make starts in Spring Training despite the lingering injury, the results were not promising. In 12 innings of work, he held a 4.64 xFIP and posted a well below average CSW.
It's clear he is nowhere near built up enough to go deep into this first start of the year, which puts a cap on his strikeout upside, even against a Baltimore lineup that has plenty of swing and miss throughout it.
Fade Ryan with confidence this afternoon.
Pick: Joe Ryan Under 6.5 Strikeouts (-140, bet365)
Top Red Sox vs Reds Prop Picks
We move to Cincinnati, where the Reds will give the ball to Andrew Abbott, who is one of the biggest regression candidates on the mound today. To his credit, Abbott posted an excellent 2.87 ERA in 166 innings of work last season, but his xFIP of 3.97 is far more telling of how fortunate he was.
Abbott has all the qualities of a pitcher bound to work around traffic. He does not get ahead in the count, he does not generate many whiffs, and when the ball in put in play against him, it was only on the ground 30.5 percent of the time in 2025.
This all sets up for Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story to do damage. Story has traditionally crushed lefties throughout his career, holding a .291 average, a .930 OPS, and 133 wRC+ against them.
While we saw a dip in his production against lefties in 2025, it's clear Story is bound to trend up against a lefty in Abbott, who is trending down, which should lead to him doing damage at the Great American ban box this afternoon.
Pick: Trevor Story 2+ Total Bases (-106, DraftKings)
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers Prop Picks
Our final pick of the slate dials in on another starter who is just not anywhere near full strength on Opening Day. Zac Gallen comes into a matchup against the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, off a down 2025 season and a horrid spring.
In 2025, Gallen posted a 4.83 ERA and was well below average in whiff rate. He gave up loads of hard contact and 1.45 homeruns per nine innings. Statistically, he did not fix in the spring either.
In just 12.2 innings, Gallen put up a 6.39 ERA, and absymal 53.6 first pitch strike rate and a barrel rate of 17 percent. It's safte say those are not trends you want to take into a start against the Dodgers.
So, not only is Gallen in rough form going into this start, but his leash is likely short, as he did not build himself up much in spring, as he struggled mightily.
Pick: Zac Gallen Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-140, bet365)
