The two-game MLB evening slate on Thursday offers MLB bettors plenty of opportunities to cash in on home run picks and player props. The New York Yankees will hand the ball to a struggling Nestor Cortes to close out their series against the rival Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night, giving bettors a chance to find some value in the home run market.
We’ll take a look at three players who should provide home run value, including Blue Jays slugger George Springer. Bettors looking for all the best value throughout the MLB season should be sure to check out OddsShopper Tools, including the Parlay Builder!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at 11:46 a.m. CT
Best Home Run Picks: George Springer Finds His Power Stroke
George Springer +400 | New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Springer has gotten off to a slow start to the season, slashing just .227/.325/.617. However, he has been much better at home, hitting .284, with three of his five home runs sent out of Rogers Centre. He will also have the luxury of going up against Cortes, who has really struggled to fool opposing batters of late.
Cortes has an inflated 5.53 ERA and has not been able to keep the ball in the park. He has allowed five home runs in his last three outings, with the lowly Oakland Athletics being the only team who failed to hit a home run against him. Springer is 2-for-7 in his career against Cortes with a home run, and there is value in him getting his second against Cortes on Thursday night (best odds +400 at Caesars Sportsbook).
Best Home Run Picks: George Springer +400 at Caesars Sportsbook
Andrew Vaughn +475 | Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn has been an RBI machine, knocking in 31 RBIs to tie him for 13th in the MLB. He will be seeing Cleveland Guardians lefty Logan Allen for the first time Thursday, but there is reason to believe he will find success. Vaughn clubbed a 418-foot home run off Guardians pitching on Wednesday night and has hit lefties slightly better than righties throughout his career.
Although Luis Robert (+400) will be a popular play given his recent flurry of home runs, there is some more value in taking a chance on Vaughn in this spot (+475 at DraftKings Sportsbook). New users at DraftKings can also get $150 in bet credit with any $5 MLB bet!
Best Home Run Picks Today: Andrew Vaughn +475 at DraftKings Sportsbook
Freddie Freeman +540 | Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Freddie Freeman is quietly in the midst of another elite hitting year, slashing .310/.382/.511 to start the season. He has seven home runs and is in a good spot to take one deep on Thursday night (+540 at FanDuel Sportsbook). Freeman is working on a seven-game hit streak and will face a familiar foe in Adam Wainwright to start the weekend series in St. Louis.
The Cardinals were hoping to get a boost to their struggling rotation when Wainwright came off the IL earlier in the month. So far it has been quite the opposite. Wainwright has a 7.20 ERA through two starts and allowed two home runs against the Boston Red Sox his last time out.
Freeman is 9-for-27 off Wainwright in his career, with four extra-base hits. He still has not taken Wainwright deep, but tonight should serve as a good opportunity to turn on one.
Best Home Run Picks Today: Freddie Freeman +540 at FanDuel Sportsbook
