Best home run prop bets for MLB Opening Day

After months of watching and waiting, Opening Day for the 2021 Major League Baseball regular season is officially here. We have 13 games on Thursday’s slate, which begin at 1:05 p.m. ET between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees and end at 10:10 p.m. ET with the San Francisco Giants taking on the Seattle Mariners.

With it being the first game of the season, many fans will be looking to play some fun prop bets as everybody is starting with a clean slate. We will be looking at home run prop bets for games beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET and discuss why you might need to consider playing them. All odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres, (+200)

This might be a no-brainer prop play for Opening Day, but at 2-1 odds, you cannot go wrong with Fernando Tatis Jr. The hotshot star shortstop is looking to build off a successful 2020 season and potentially parlay it into a MVP season for the San Diego Padres.

The Padres will be facing the Arizona Diamondbacks at 4:10 p.m. ET, with veteran pitcher Madison Bumgarner on the mound. In his career, Tatis is 6-for-11 with two home runs and four RBI in 14 plate appearances against MadBum. Last season, Tatis slashed .368/.455/.895 with five home runs and 11 RBI against the D-Backs. The 22-year-old will be looking to start off the season with a statement against their NL West rivals.

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels, (+360)

Ohtani had a tremendous Spring Training, where he slugged .552/.576/1.069 with five home runs and eight RBI in 33 plate appearances. The Los Angeles Angels are hoping that he can carry that momentum into the regular season, which will make their lineup dangerous.

The Angels will be one of the last teams to play on Thursday as they face off against Lucas Giolito and the Chicago White Sox. Last season, Giolito produced a record of 4-3, 3.48 ERA, and 97 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched. Ohtani has had some success off of the 26-year-old pitcher, hitting 4-of-9 with a home run and two RBI in nine plate appearances over his career.

Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds, (+360)

While all the attention will be on Nolan Arenado for the St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day, we cannot forget about the Cincinnati Reds, who have a few sluggers of their own that can change the outcome of a game with one swing. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez had 15 home runs last season after recording a career-high 49 in 2019.

Over his career, the veteran third baseman has hit the ball well against the St. Louis Cardinals. He’s slashed .266/.331/.489 with 17 home runs and 55 RBI in 88 games against the Red Birds. On Thursday afternoon, Suarez will be facing starter Jack Flaherty, who is 4-13 with two home runs and three RBI in 15 plate appearances.

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