MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, March 30

Munetaka Murakami, Cody Ponce, and Bryce Elder are the top player prop picks for Monday's MLB action.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:08pm

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that capture the dynamic motion and power of a baseball player's swing, conceptually representing the breakout performance of Munetaka Murakami.Munetaka Murakami's powerful start to his MLB career has sparked excitement, as the Japanese slugger looks to continue driving in runs for the struggling White Sox.Chicago Today

My MLB player prop predictions for Monday, March 30, include picks on Munetaka Murakami, Cody Ponce, and Bryce Elder. Murakami has gotten off to a hot start to his big league career, while Ponce and Elder look to take advantage of favorable matchups against the Rockies and Athletics, respectively.

Why it matters

Opening Weekend of the 2026 MLB season has provided some early insights into player performance and team strengths. These player prop bets aim to capitalize on those early trends, with a focus on strikeout props and a slugging Japanese star looking to continue his power surge.

The details

For Munetaka Murakami, the Chicago White Sox are 0-3 to start the season, but the focus has been on Murakami's hot start, as the Japanese star has hit three home runs in his first three MLB games. He'll look to drive in another run against Marlins pitcher Chris Paddack, who has struggled with expected batting average and slugging. Cody Ponce, a former Pirates prospect who dominated in the KBO last season, makes his MLB return against the strikeout-prone Rockies. And Bryce Elder of the Braves, who saw a late-season uptick in his strikeout rate in 2025, faces an Athletics lineup that has already racked up 50 strikeouts in three games.

  • The Murakami, Ponce, and Elder props are all for games taking place on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • Murakami's game starts at 6:40 p.m. ET, Ponce's game starts at 7:07 p.m. ET, and Elder's game starts at 7:15 p.m. ET.

The players

Munetaka Murakami

A Japanese star making his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox, Murakami has already hit three home runs in his first three games.

Cody Ponce

A former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect who dominated in the KBO last season, earning the league's MVP award, Ponce is making his MLB return with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bryce Elder

An Atlanta Braves starting pitcher who saw a late-season uptick in his strikeout rate in 2025, Elder faces a young, strikeout-prone Athletics lineup.

Chris Paddack

The Miami Marlins pitcher making his debut with the team, Paddack has struggled with expected batting average and slugging in recent seasons.

Kevin Gausman

The Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher who combined with Dylan Cease and Eric Lauer to strike out 50 Athletics batters over the opening weekend.

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What they’re saying

“The Chicago White Sox are 0-3. Which isn't surprising. But it feels like no one is talking about it thanks to the start Munetaka Murakami is having to his MLB career.”

— Andrew Caley, Covers.com Contributor

“Whatever the Toronto Blue Jays are doing with their starting pitchers. It's working.”

— Andrew Caley, Covers.com Contributor

What’s next

The MLB season is just getting started, so bettors will want to continue monitoring player and team performance as more data becomes available. Future prop bets and best bets will likely evolve as the season progresses.

The takeaway

Early-season MLB player props can provide valuable betting opportunities, especially when targeting strikeout props and players who have shown signs of breakout potential. However, it's important to balance small sample sizes with longer-term trends and advanced metrics when making these wagers.