MLB Player Props for Thursday, 8/20: Best Bets & Predictions Today
What kind of performances can we expect from Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, and Gunnar Henderson? Follow along as our MLB betting analyst, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite MLB prop bets for Thursday, August 20, 2026. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more MLB plays, by subscribing to the RotoGrinders Props & Pick’em package.
Thursday’s MLB evening slate features only 3 games, but fans and bettors shouldn’t be short on talent, with Gerrit Cole, Kyle Bradish, and Jacob deGrom among the scheduled starters.
There is some potential inclement weather in the area in Baltimore tonight, but the other evening contests will be played indoors, which eliminates any concerns about rain or wind. As always, it’s important to keep an eye on the MLB weather report before committing to any wagers.
Below, you can find three of my favorite picks for Thursday, August 20th!
Best MLB Player Props for Thursday, August 20th
Here are my top player prop bets for today, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM ET on Thursday, August 20th:
- Jacob deGrom Over/Under 5.5 Strikeouts
- Gerrit Cole Over/Under 17.5 Outs Recorded
- Gunnar Henderson Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
Jacob deGrom OVER 5.5 Strikeouts (-117, Novig)
It’s clear that deGrom hasn’t been healthy since before the All-Star Break. That’s not conjecture – he’s been scratched from multiple starts in that span and removed after only 2 innings in another outing after dealing with “triceps fatigue.”
All of that said, he’s on extended rest this evening, and the Rangers could certainly use some length from him after Kumar Rocker only lasted 5 innings on Wednesday.
If deGrom truly isn’t healthy, this bet could be over before it begins, but the reports from Texas beat reporters this week have been encouraging. The Rangers probably wouldn’t be sending deGrom to the hill tonight if they thought there was a high risk of him having an abbreviated outing.
Washington’s lineup has been swinging and missing a lot more since the trade deadline, and recent call up Andrew Pinckney only adds to the potential for deGrom to rack up some strikeouts.
Gerrit Cole OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-150, Novig)
Manager Aaron Boone could desperately use some length from Cole tonight. The team has used David Bednar, Brent Headrick, Fernando Cruz, and Paul Blackburn each in consecutive days. Yerry De los Santos is likely available this evening, but he threw 16 pitches yesterday too.
Boone has been aggressive with his starters’ usage in 2026, and this is a spot where he might not have much of a choice. Cole has looked good since the All-Star Break, consistently throwing strikes and working ahead in the count.
There is some threat of rain in the area this evening, but Cole should have the ability to make an uninterrupted start.
Gunnar Henderson OVER 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (+115, DraftKings)
DRAFTKINGSHenderson has quietly been one of the hottest hitters in baseball across the last 10 days. He owns a 209 wRC+ and .355 batting average in his last 36 plate appearances. His contact-quality metrics in that span look just as good – 11.1% barrel rate and 48.1% hard-hit rate.
Henderson is making a lot of contact in the zone, doing damage when he does make contact, and he has been particularly good against RHP. This is good value for a talented hitter who should see at least 2 plate appearances against a taxed New York arm barn on Thursday.
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