Who doesn't love home run prop bets?
Chicks dig the long ball, which makes 2024 MLB Opening Day the perfect time to handicap who we think will go yard in the first game of the season:
Follow along for two home run prop bets for March 28:
Pick 1: Jose Altuve To Hit A Home Run (+400)
Yankees vs Astros Matchup Preview - Game Time: 4:10 pm ET
We can start by agreeing Jose Altuve has a flair for dramatics. The Astros stunted superstar also seems to come up with clutch hits, especially homers, and the numbers point to another big game Thursday.
The 'Stros square off against Yankees starter Nestor Cortes, who's been unable to shake his struggles of late. The lefty labored last year (4.97 ERA) and into spring training this year (7.71 ERA, 1.9 HR/9). This bet is as much about backing Altuve as it is about fading Cortes.
And for the dessert: Altuve is 2-for-8 lifetime against Cortes with two solo bombs. His only hits against him are homers, and we'll be that to happen again at +400.
Pick 2: Ketel Marte To Hit A Home Run (+330)
Rockies vs D-backs Matchup Preview - Game Time: 10:10 pm ET
I swear my strategies will become more complex than fading bad pitchers, but this is where I'm going for Thursday.
Kyle Freeland is not a good pitcher. Tossing baseballs at Coors Field certainly doesn't help, but he's very easy to square up, and last year, the lefty allowed 1.7 HR/9.
Enter Ketel Marte. He's not the most powerful D-backs hitter, however, he has a solid track record vs Freeland. In 43 career at-bats vs Freeland, Marte is slashing .349/.440/.721 with three homers, nine extra-base hits, and six RBIs.
