MLB Best Bets Today: 3 MLB Predictions and Picks for Monday, August 31, 2026

MLB Betting Picks in Summary

• Athletics at Rangers NRFI (-156)
• Gunnar Henderson to Score a Run (-145)
• Bryce Harper to Hit a Home Run (+520)

Baseball has you covered if you want a large inventory of options to bet.

From moneylines to player props to NRFI wagers, we have plenty of ways each day to bet the long, arduous MLB schedule.

Using the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, what are the best MLB bets for today?

This article includes some of the top bets from our other MLB content. All MLB odds via FanDuel, and they may change after this article is published.

MLB Picks and Predictions for Today

Athletics at Rangers NRFI (-156)

Starting Pitchers: Gage Jump vs. Jacob deGrom (8:06 p.m. ET)

With Gage Jump and Jacob deGrom on the mound, I think this is the best NRFI setup on Monday.

Jump has been solid in the opening frame this season, pitching to a 3.71 first-inning ERA across 17 starts. Opponents have hit .258 against him in the first inning with a .319 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage, while Jump has recorded 15 strikeouts against only 6 walks. He also enters Monday coming off an excellent outing against Minnesota in which he allowed just 2 runs over 6.1 innings while striking out 9.

DeGrom's first-inning performance has actually been a concern this year, and that played out in his most recent start, when the White Sox tagged him for six first-inning runs. Still, deGrom owns 159 strikeouts over 130.1 innings this season, and his ability to miss bats gives him the upside to bounce back quickly against an Athletics lineup missing several important hitters.

With Jump pitching well lately and deGrom coming off an uncharacteristically disastrous opening inning, I'm willing to bet on both starters settling things down and getting through the first without a run.

Gunnar Henderson to Score a Run (-145)

Orioles vs. Rockies, 8:41 p.m. ET

The Baltimore Orioles are at Coors tonight against RHP Tanner Gordon, and I like these odds on Gunnar Henderson to score a run.

Gordon hasn’t been bad this year, registering a 4.04 SIERA. However, he’s got just an 18.9% strikeout rate and is getting rocked at Coors, allowing a .429 wOBA in the split along with a 51.6% hard-hit rate.

Henderson has been better on the road (.323 wOBA) than at home (.303 wOBA), and he’s having a nice second half, generating a .333 wOBA in the split.

Henderson has scored six times over his last six games, and with the O’s at the best offensive park in the game tonight, I like his chances to touch home on Monday.

Home Run Prediction: Bryce Harper (+520)

Phillies at Diamondbacks, 9:41 p.m. ET

You can make a dinger case for Bryce Harper on most days when he’s facing a right-hander. That’s especially true when said RHP is a low-strikeout guy, which is the case tonight.

Brandon Pfaadt is taking the ball for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pfaadt has a meager 16.7% K rate on the year, and while his 3.51 ERA looks great, Pfaadt’s xFIP is 4.33. Left-handed hitters have tagged him for 1.72 homers per nine.

Harper is hammering righties to the tune of a .436 wOBA and 45.5% hard-hit rate. Overall in the second half, Harper has a .413 wOBA, and he’s red-hot right now, posting a .514 wOBA with two bombs over his previous 35 plate appearances.

At long +500 odds, Harper is pretty easy to like tonight.

MLB Betting Frequently Asked Questions

What are MLB player prop bets?

MLB player prop bets are wagers on specific statistical outcomes tied to individual players during a game — not on which team wins or loses. You might bet on how many strikeouts a starting pitcher records, whether a shortstop gets a hit, or how many total bases an outfielder accumulates.

Because they are isolated to a single player's performance, props let you apply focused knowledge about matchups, recent form, and ballpark conditions rather than predicting the full game result.

What types of MLB player props are available?

FanDuel offers a wide menu of MLB props. The most common categories include:

• Pitcher strikeouts
• Batter hits
• Home runs
• Total bases
• RBIs
• Stolen bases
• Pitcher outs recorded

What does +310 mean on an MLB home run prop bet?

A +310 line means a $100 bet returns $310 in profit if the player homers. You can bet any amount — a $10 bet at +310 returns $31 in profit. The number reflects the implied probability the sportsbook assigns to the event (roughly 24% for +310 odds).

What does "total bases" mean as a prop bet?

The total bases prop counts the bases a batter earns from hits in a single game:

• Single = 1 base
• Double = 2 bases
• Triple = 3 bases
• Home run = 4 bases

Walks, hit-by-pitches, and stolen bases do not count. A typical total bases line is set at 1.5 or 2.5. Betting over 1.5 means you need at least a double, or two singles.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.