Expert picks for 2026 player props, including pitcher wins, home runs, stolen bases and more

Let's pick some favorites and dark horses to lead the league this season
With the 2026 MLB season looming, gamblers who love to stock up on preseason futures props only have a little bit of time left.

Plus, for those who don't gamble, it's still fun to think about who the league leaders might be in a few different statistical categories.

Let's take a look.

The odds are courtesy of DraftKings .

Crochet led last year with 255 in 205 ⅓ innings.

I've got him leading again, even approaching 300 strikeouts.

Longshot play: I don't think Cole Ragans at +1700 qualifies for a longshot here, but he's my pick if I can't take Crochet.

His strikeout rate throughout his career has been amazing and all that's missing is reliable health.

How about Logan Gilbert at +4500?

He struck out 220 in 2024 and raised his rate last season with 173 in 131 innings.

With a full 33 starts, he could work up to around 250 strikeouts and give himself a good shot here.

Longer shot play: I'll go with Jesús Luzardo at +6000.

He struck out 216 last season in 183 ⅔ innings.

It was a career high in innings, but only by five.

Perhaps he's ready to top 200 and will gain some consistency.

There's a decent shot here and these odds are enticing.

I'm all over Elly here.

Remember, he played most of last season with a partial tear in his left quad.

He stole 67 bases in 2024 and I'm expecting him to improve his on-base chops at some point, giving him more chances.

Longshot play: Ronald Acuña Jr.

led the majors with 73 steals last time he had a first full season post-ACL surgery and he's at +1500 here.

This time around, it's another first full season since ACL surgery.

Is it really that simple?

Of course not.

He's older and now both ACLs are reconstructed, but we know he has it in him.

Pete Crow-Armstrong at +1800 is also a decent play in this category.

Longer shot play: I'll zero in on Maikel Garcia .

He stole 37 in 2024.

That number dipped to 23 last season, but he upped his OBP to .351 and sitting atop the Royals order, there's a decent chance he ramps up the running now in front of the thunder in that lineup.

The MLB leader was Schwarber with 132 last season.

Alonso was second with 126, though he's changed teams and leagues.

Ohtani hits leadoff.

Judge would be a great play, but I find Caminero calling my name on this one.

We'll ride with him.

Longshot play: Schwarber is +2500.

Hard to pass that up.

Longer shot play: Vinnie Pasquantino is +3500 and he finished sixth in RBI last season.

He'll be in a prime RBI spot for what I expect to be a pretty potent Royals offense with some burners in front of him in Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr.

Skubal feels like the play here as an Opening Day starter in a contract year with a team expected to win its division.

And if the Tigers somehow fall out of the race, they'll trade him to a contender.

Longshot play: Logan Webb at +1600 is pretty attractive because he carries a huge workload and never gets hurt.

He'll be pitching for a team that is at least in the range of .500 and if they end up better than that, he's got a real shot here.

If these odds aren't enough of a longshot for you, how about Ragans at +3000?

I love the Royals this year.

Díaz tied for 10th last year, but that was with the Mets .

Now he's with the mighty Dodgers .

My only hold up is that you could see the organization taking it easy with him due to the expectation that he'll have a heavy October workload.

I don't like him as the leader.

I do think the Padres ride Miller hard in the ninth so he's the pick.