There are only four games on tonight’s MLB slate, but that doesn’t mean there won’t still be a couple of home runs hit on this fine Thursday. It just makes things a little more difficult.
I love a challenge. Let’s break down my top three home run props bets for this evening’s action on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Top Home Run Props on DraftKings Sportsbook
Brent Rooker 1+ Home Run (+390)
This sort of goes against two of the main rules of liking Rooker in betting or in DFS. The 30-year-old has been one of the best in baseball at hitting left-handed pitching so far in 2025 and, thanks primarily to Sutter Health Park’s hitter-friendly conditions, he’s also been the top version of himself when batting in Sacramento. Neither of those factors will be true on Thursday, as the Athletics are in Toronto to face the right-handed Jose Berrios. Still, no pitcher has given up more long balls than Berrios since the beginning of last season (41). Seems like a pretty enticing matchup regardless of handedness. Also, while his numbers aren’t quite at the level of his breakout 2024, Rooker does enter this tilt in possession of a 90th percentile expected slugging percentage (.544). The man has some real pop.
James Wood 1+ Home Run (+310)
CJ Abrams 1+ Home Run (+360)
I’ll give you a two-for-one here. What a deal. The crux of liking both Wood and Abrams on Thursday is how poorly Emerson Hancock has fared with LHBs this season. Across his eight starts, the former first-round pick has surrendered a whopping 2.65 home runs per nine to opposing left-handed hitters. That’s a red flag on most nights, but especially when staring down the Nationals, as Washington could legitimately start nine lefties this evening, given the team’s plethora of switch-hitters. Abrams and Wood sit atop this lineup for a reason, though. The shortstop possesses a .250 ISO against RHPs in 2025, while the sophomore outfielder combines a 99th percentile hard hit rate (59.3%) with a 98th percentile expected slugging percentage (.595). If you only want to bet one, Wood is certainly the lean, as he’s managed to go deep in three of his past four games.
Brandon Lowe 1+ Home Run (+450)
Lowe did not start the season all that well, but things have been turning in a positive direction so far in May. To wit, the veteran infielder is slashing .291/.351/.593 in the month with an eye-popping .302 ISO and seven home runs. Lowe has pulled 10 of his 11 long balls this season, so he won’t really benefit from the Crawford Boxes at Daikin Park, but he does draw a nice matchup in Ryan Gusto, who owns a 5.96 ERA as a starter and who has conceded a notable 3.52 home runs per nine to opposing LHBs across his 12 appearances in 2025. The 30-year-old has mustered four homers in his last seven contests. Let’s hope that figure is five for eight by the end of the night.
