MLB Player Props for Thursday, 4/9: Best Bets & Predictions Today
What kind of performances can we expect from Munetaka Murakami and Randy Vasquez? Follow along as our MLB betting analyst, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite MLB prop bets for Thursday, April 9, 2026. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more MLB plays, by subscribing to the RotoGrinders Props & Pick’em package.
Major League Baseball has only 6 games on the schedule for Thursday – 3 in the afternoon and 3 in the evening. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for bettors to get involved in the action.
There is once again some pitcher-friendly MLB Weather across the country, with temperatures below 50 degrees in New York and Minnesota. If looking for a hitter prop over, it might make sense to focus on the White Sox against the Royals or Rockies against the Padres as two of the later games on the slate.
Below, you can find three of my favorite picks for Thursday, April 9th!
Best MLB Player Props for Thursday, April 9th
Here are my top player prop bets for today, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET on Thursday, April 9th:
- Munetaka Murakami Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
- Randy Vasquez Over/Under 17.5 Outs Recorded
- Randy Vasquez Over/Under 4.5 Strikeouts
Munetaka Murakami OVER 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-111, DraftKings)
DRAFTKINGSMurakami is hitting only .205 to begin his MLB career, but he has a good matchup against Seth Lugo, who has historically struggled mightily across the platoon. Despite good overall numbers to begin 2026, Lugo still has only an 18.2% strikeout rate and 1.50 WHIP against lefties through two turns in the rotation. Lefties are hitting .290 against him. Murakami has been in the 2-hole most days for the White Sox against RHP. This is a good price to see if he can make an impact at the plate on Thursday.
Randy Vasquez OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (+104, DraftKings)
DRAFTKINGSEntering play on Thursday, the Rockies are averaging the fewest pitches per plate appearance of any team in the big leagues. Vasquez has been efficient in his first 2 starts, averaging 3.78 pitches per plate appearance. That number is consistent with the 3.77 pitches per batter faced he averaged in 2025.
The Rockies are also coming out of Coors Field altitude without the benefit of an off day in this matchup, which is a boost for Vasquez. San Diego’s arm barn is in fine shape, which is the primary concern here – but, at plus money, it’s a playable risk.
Randy Vasquez OVER 4.5 Strikeouts (-121, Novig)
In 2025, Vasquez had 5+ strikeouts in only 4 of his 28 starts. This isn’t 2025 anymore though.
During Spring Training, Vasquez’s velocity was up considerably. He struck out 8 batters in his first regular-season outing against the Tigers. In his second start, he had only 3 strikeouts, but the game was played in cooler temperatures in Boston. We often see pitchers take a little bit of velocity off of their heater and pitch to contact in such pitcher-friendly conditions.
Vasquez returns home to face a Colorado team that is coming off of 6 games in 6 days played at Coors Field. Adjusting to non-Coors altitude without the benefit of an off day has been proven to be a challenge for hitters, historically.
If Vasquez’s velocity gets a bump back up in more normal weather conditions this evening, he should have a great chance to clear this number against a Colorado lineup that ranks 21st in z-contact% and 28th in o-contact% to begin 2026.
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