Best betting promos and sportsbooks for MLB prop bets [May 21, 2026]

May 21, 2026 - 09:45

The Detroit Tigers kick off Thursday’s slate of games with a divisional matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.

After going 2-8 in their last ten games, the Detroit Tigers odds of winning the AL Central have steadily declined, now sitting 8.5 games back from the Cleveland Guardians for first in the division standings.

With Cleveland struggling to make contact, expect Casey Mize to get the Tigers back in the win column by creating a high volume of Whiffs which would help keep the Guardians out of scoring position.

With seven games taking place on Thursday, there are plenty of prop bets and markets to wager on which you can read a detailed breakdown of them below.

Best betting promos and sportsbooks for MLB prop bets

Find the best promos and sportsbooks to use for today’s MLB prop bets.

Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers (1:10pm, EST)

Cleveland Guardians Team Total Under 3.5 (-120) at BetMGM Sportsbook

After failing to play at a competitive level last year, the Cleveland Guardians have carried over their struggles into this season, kicking off their 2026 campaign ranked well below league average in Hit Rate.

Their inability to make contact leaves them vulnerable to falling into prolonged scoring lulls, making it difficult to dig themselves out of a hole once they fall behind on the scoreboard.

Unfortunately for the Guardians, their struggles on offense are poised to persist against the Detroit Tigers as they battle it out against Casey Mize who is currently averaging an ERA of 2.43, a WHIP of 1.054, and a FIP of 2.68.

With the Guardians forced to get more aggressive with their swings, expect Mize to create Whiffs at a consistent rate, keeping them out of scoring position in the process.

Casey Mize Over 16.5 Total Outs (-110) at BetMGM Sportsbook

With the Guardians struggling to string together their Hits, they will be unable to advance their runners into scoring position while Mize is on the mound, improving the likelihood the Tigers pitcher goes the full length of his start and clear the over on his Outs prop.

If the total on Mize’s Outs prop crosses through the key number of 17.5, then reduce the size of your wager.

New York Mets vs Washington Nationals (4:05pm, EST)

David Peterson Over 4.5 Hits Allowed (-156) at Caesars Sportsbook

Projected to finish at the bottom of the NL East, the Washington Nationals have managed to defy expectations a quarter into the season, sitting in third place with a three game lead over the Miami Marlins and New York Mets.

Their resurgence on offense has played a major role in their success, fielding a lineup who ranks above league average in Hit Rate, On Base Percentage, and in OPS.

Heading into Thursday’s contest against the New York Mets, expect the Nationals to build on their momentum as they face off against David Peterson who is currently averaging a WHIP of 1.569 while generating over one Hit Against per Inning Pitched.

Especially with the Mets back end severely struggling in coverage, residing near the bottom of the board in Defensive Efficiency and in Fielding Percentage.

CJ Abrams Over 1.5 Total Hits (+255) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Since the start of the regular season, CJ Abrams has been a steady source of production for the Nationals, averaging over one Hit per game and a .928 OPS.

With Peterson incapable of avoiding contact while attacking the plate, expect Abrams to continue to barrel up the ball at a high rate and clear the over on his Hits prop.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals (1:15pm, EST)

Dustin May Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+110) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Like the Nationals, the Pittsburgh Pirates have also been able to round back into form on offense, ranking in the top five in Hit Rate and in On Base Percentage.

Their turnaround has helped reduce the amount of negative variance in their contest, increasing their chances of winning on a nightly basis.

In a favorable matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, expect the Pirates to continue to make contact at a high rate as they face off against Dustin May who is averaging more than one Hit Against and less than one Strikeout per Inning Pitched.

For some more exposure, escalator bet May’s Strikeout prop by placing smaller wagers on his alternate unders at the best available odds across multiple sportsbooks.

About the author

Kody Malstrom

Kody Malstrom is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with six years of experience covering a vast majority of sports. He covers football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and the UFC in written and video form.

Born and raised in Michigan, Kody is a Detroit sports fan who spends all of his Sundays in the fall rooting for the Detroit Lions and Saturdays watching as much College Football as possible. In the winter, he shifts his focus to the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons while simultaneously rooting for his North Carolina Tar Heels.

When he is not staring at betting markets, you can find Kody at the beach or snowboarding down a mountain, depending on the time of the year.

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