MLB Best Bets: Top Player Props & Novig Market Picks (Friday, 6/5/26)

June 5, 2026

Get Thunder Dan Palyo's top MLB best bets and player props for Friday, 6/5/26. Expert picks powered by the Novig betting exchange -- see today's highest-value plays. Win more with RotoBaller's expert betting advice.

Friday night slates are some of my favorites for MLB bets, as we almost always get all 30 teams in action and a ton of options for finding the best wagers. That's certainly the case tonight, and I have no shortage of bets for you to consider in today's full slate betting breakdown!

If you're reading this, I'll assume you also bet on baseball regularly. Today's picks will all be using the odds on the most unique and fastest-growing sports prediction sites -- Novig. If you're not familiar with the site, I'll explain how it works and provide some of my favorite wagers to place on Novig.

As always, make sure you're following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for all your fantasy baseball and betting needs. Now, here are some of my favorite MLB bets and player props for Friday's games.

What is Novig?

Novig is one of the fastest-growing peer-to-peer sports prediction markets. On Novig, users trade directly with each other, without the "vig" typically associated with a sportsbook. The vig is the fee sportsbooks charge to use their services. It's a hidden cost in the odds offered on each side of a specific bet. When a book offers -110 odds on both sides of a bet, it is keeping close to 10% of every bettor's wager, regardless of whether you win or lose.

On Novig, users trade with each other on the outcomes of sporting events, similarly to the way that investors trade on the stock market. But instead of having to beat the books, you just have to win against other users -- the site keeps no commission.

Users can bet on most traditional sports markets, including moneyline bets, spreads, totals, player props, parlays, and futures!

Novig operates with two virtual currencies. Novig coins can be wagered for fun and to test out strategies, while Novig cash can be wagered on all markets and then redeemed for real cash prizes.

Access to Novig is widespread; it's now accessible in 36 U.S. states.

How Does Novig Work?

Since users are not playing against the books, there is an opportunity to make more money per wager you win, and users can usually find better value on bets (in terms of the prices offered) than on traditional sportsbooks.

There are no oddsmakers; users dictate their own odds. You can either accept the odds the market offers or set your own odds. If you set your own odds, another user has to accept them on the other side for the bet to be activated. Users drive the market, not the sportsbook or oddsmakers!

NRFI (No Runs First Inning) Bets

All odds are from Novig and were accurate as of 8:30 AM ET

Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays: UNDER 0.5 runs - 1st Inning Total (-122)

These two teams meet again after playing each other just last week. In that series, Brandon Young and Trey Yesevage faced off, and both recorded two scoreless innings. Yesevage did have some walk issues (7) in that one, but has been pitching well for Toronto, while Brandon Young has been coming on strong for the Orioles, too.

These offenses are both pretty solid, which helps us get decent odds here, but I like the pitchers early in this one.

New York Mets at San Diego Padres: UNDER 0.5 runs - 1st Inning Total (-120)

I like this pitching matchup too much to pass up this NRFI bet. Christian Scott is on the bump for the Mets, while the Padres are countering with veteran righty Michael King.

Scott has worked a scoreless first frame in four of his last five starts, while King has logged five straight scoreless first innings. Neither offense is in very good form, either, which gives both pitchers another advantage. I was expecting to have to lay -135 or higher on this one, so -120 is a very nice number.

MLB Moneyline Bets

Seattle Mariners (-125) at Detroit Tigers

Bryan Woo is on the mound for Seattle today and comes into this game in really good form. The Mariners have won six of Woo's last eight starts, and he'll face a Detroit offense that is just 19th in the league in wRC+ against RHP over the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have to rely on Framber Valdez to shut down the Seattle offense, and Valdez has been shaky lately. Detroit has dropped his last five starts. Betting on road teams can be a tough proposition, but Seattle has won seven of their last ten games on the road, so I'm okay backing them here in this spot.

MLB First 5 Innings Bets

Washington Nationals at Arizona Diamondbacks First 5 Total Over 4.5 runs (-138)

I think we should see plenty of offense in the desert tonight. It's always a good hitting environment at Chase Field, but hot temps (100 degrees) will certainly favor the hitters, even with the roof closed.

The Nationals are starting lefty Foster Griffin, who is having a solid season, but the Diamondbacks are crushing left-handed pitching lately. Meanwhile, the Snakes have to rely on Merrill Kelly to slow down the Washington offense, and the veteran Kelly has an ERA over 5.00 (and over 6.00 at home this season).

There's some juice here, but a strong trend is working in our favor as the Diamondbacks have gone over this F5 total in eight of their last 10 games when a LHP is starting for their opponent.

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You can claim your welcome offer to Novig right now by clicking on the image below.

Prop Bet Picks

All odds are from Novig and were accurate as of 8:30 AM ET

Roki Sasaki OVER 5.5 Strikeouts (-116)

Sasaki got eight Angels via strikeout the first time he saw them last month, and he's been trending in the right direction now for the last month. He seems to have finally cured his control issues and is coming off an impressive seven-strikeout outing against the Phillies.

Christian Scott OVER 5.5 Strikeouts (+128)

Scott is in a nice spot tonight against the Padres, who have the second-highest K% vs. RHP over the last two weeks. He's a tad risky since his K% is quite a bit ahead of his SwStr%, but the matchup and odds push this prop to where I simply can't pass it up.

Kyle Leahy OVER 4.5 Strikeouts (-122)

Leahy is not a big-time K pitcher; however, he did whiff eight Reds the last time he faced them, and Cincy is leading the majors in K% vs. RHP over the last two weeks.

Zebby Matthews OVER 5.5 Strikeouts (+133)

Zebby has six or more strikeouts now in his last three starts. Kansas City's strikeout rate against righties is trending up lately, too, as four of the last five righties to start against them have had six or more strikeouts in those outings, which includes two 10-strikeout performances (Gerrit Cole and Jack Leiter).

Parker Messick OVER 5.5 Strikeouts (-160)

The Cleveland lefty has made us a lot of money this year on props, but going over 6.5 is a bit steep for me today, even against a Texas team that leads the majors in K% vs. LHP over the last two weeks. I'm okay going down to 5.5 here and paying the juice, since we have really good odds on the rest of these K props.

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