It’s a light Thursday on the MLB schedule, but I still have three player prop recommendations for the action.
Today’s MLB props narrative: Washington Nationals stud James Wood has been on fire and enjoys a plus matchup during the final MLB game of the night. Two picks from the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros series opener round out my plays.
Check out my top MLB prop bets for May 29, featuring predictions on Jonathan Aranda and Shane Baz.
MLB prop bets
Best bet: Wood over 1.5 total bases (+110)
There’s clear value here on the 22-year-old, who’s been raking for the Nats.
- The left fielder enters tonight’s game at T-Mobile Park with 15 homers and a .950 OPS.
- He’s top 10 in the majors in wRC+ and ISO, and he’s one of 11 players to drive in 40-plus runs.
- Wood, who will see Seattle Mariners righty Emerson Hancock, is batting .295/.396/.590 with 10 homers vs. RHPs.
Hancock (5.95 ERA) has been roughed up repeatedly, allowing opposing batters to hit a scorching .325/.376/.528 off him.
He doesn’t miss bats and has struggled to keep the ball in the yard, leading to bottom-10 percentile ranks in K% and expected ERA.
Over his last 10 games, Wood has a 1.238 OPS and is 8-2 against this line.
Key stat: Wood has topped 1.5 bases in 50.9% of his starts, the eighth-best mark in MLB (per Team Rankings).
Best MLB picks
Aranda over 0.5 RBI (+162): Six qualified hitters are batting at least .300 with a .900 OPS. Aranda is one of them.
The 27-year-old has exploded this season, entering tonight with a team-leading 30 RBI. He has done damage against right-handers and will see one tonight.
With the platoon advantage, Aranda is batting .333/.399/.568 with all seven of his homers.
Houston’s Ryan Gusto has struggled against lefty hitters, sporting a .284/.377/.582 slash line. His opponent OPS vs. LHHs is more than 300 points higher, and he’s surrendered all six of his homers to them.
Aranda generally hits in a run-producing spot, batting cleanup or No. 5 in the Rays’ lineup in all but three games this month.
Baz under 17.5 outs (-106): Sticking with Rays/Astros, I don’t like Baz’s ability to work deep.
- The right-hander has made five starts in May, clearing this line once. The two times he pitched effectively both came against the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Baz allowed five-plus runs in each of his other three starts and has walked multiple batters in every outing this month.
- He hasn’t been missing bats, either, after recording two double-digit strikeout games in April.
Rays starters have gone six-plus innings in four consecutive games, so Tampa shouldn’t have fatigue concerns about its bullpen.
Houston’s 118 wRC+ over the last two weeks is tops in the AL (second in MLB). The Astros have won four straight and have the second-most home wins (20) in baseball.
This is a tough assignment for the 25-year-old Baz.
MLB prop picks made at 2:55 p.m. ET on 05/29/2025.
Chris joined NorthStar Gaming from Covers.com where he was a publishing editor and wrote betting content. Before that, he was the sports editor at VICE Canada, worked for theScore and covered the Blue Jays for MLB.com. In addition to filling out the lineup card each day for the editorial team, Chris writes frequently himself, primarily on the NBA and MLB.