MLB Player Props for Monday, 5/18: Best Bets & Predictions Today
What kind of performances can we expect from Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, and Michael Conforto? Follow along as our MLB betting analyst, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite MLB prop bets for Monday, May 18, 2026. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more MLB plays, by subscribing to the RotoGrinders Props & Pick’em package.
There are 14 MLB games on tap to begin the new week, with the first pitch of the night scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.
The MLB weather report is all over the place on Monday, with temperatures in the 90s in some places on the east coast but in the 30s in Colorado. The most exciting playing environment of the night could be in Chicago, with warm temperatures and winds blowing out toward right-center, increasing the likelihood that we see a few home runs in that contest!
Below, you can find three of my favorite picks for Monday, May 18th!
Best MLB Player Props for Monday, May 18th
Here are my top player prop bets for today, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET on Monday, May 18th:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong Over/Under 0.5 Home Runs
- Ian Happ Over/Under 0.5 Home Runs
- Michael Conforto Over/Under 0.5 Home Runs
Pete Crow-Armstrong OVER 0.5 Home Runs (+470, FanDuel)
FANDUELCrow-Armstrong isn’t an elite hitter, but he has good bat speed and pulls the ball in the air well. He has a more boom-or-bust skill set than the Cubs might prefer at the plate, but that’s not an issue for anyone betting him to hit a home run on Monday evening. Crow-Armstrong has the ability to hit non-fastballs over the wall too, which could be an important factor against Brandon Sproat, who has a deep pitch mix.
Ian Happ OVER 0.5 Home Runs (+355, Novig)
FANATICSIn 2026, Happ boasts a career-best 27.2% pull-air% – a 5.8% increase from 2025. He already has 10 home runs this season, which is nearly halfway to his career-best mark for a full season, despite Chicago being only about a third of the way into this year’s campaign. Tonight, he gets a favorable matchup against Brandon Sproat in the early innings. Sproat has allowed a 48.8% fly-ball rate across the platoon this year. Happ should also have some power potential in his matchups during the latter frames too.
Michael Conforto OVER 0.5 Home Runs (+459, Novig)
Conforto has been a revelation for the Cubs in recent weeks. During May, he has 3 home runs in 30 trips to the plate, walking as many times as he has struck out. Notably, Conforto has a 48.1% fly-ball rate and 20% barrel rate in that span, both strong indicators that he’s maximizing his power potential. Conforto has nearly doubled his pull-air% from 2025. These are enticing odds tonight, with hitter-friendly playing conditions at Wrigley Field.
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