Tuesday's packed 15-game MLB slate is a treasure trove for home run prop bettors, and SportsLine expert Jacob Fetner, who finished last season up a remarkable 50 units on his HR picks, has identified his top value plays for April 14th. Let's dig into the matchups and the data driving these expert selections.
First on the card is Tampa Bay's Brandon Lowe. We're going back to the well after Lowe cashed on Monday, and the matchup justifies it. Lowe has significant platoon advantage, boasting a .919 OPS against right-handed pitching over the past year, with 32 of his 37 homers coming off RHPs. He faces St. Louis's Miles Mikolas, who has been vulnerable to lefties, allowing 19 of his 34 homers this season to them. With Mikolas struggling mightily (17 ER in his last 12.1 IP) and the park playing hitter-friendly, Lowe at +410 represents major value over Fetner's +256 line.
For a high-upside long shot, Fetner is riding the hot bat of Chicago's Pablo Ballesteros. The catcher is scorching, going 6-for-7 in his last three games, and he draws a prime matchup against Philadelphia's Aaron Nola. Nola has been far more susceptible to left-handed power, yielding 16 of his 21 homers since last season to lefties. While Ballesteros is more contact-oriented, the +710 odds on a player with this platoon edge and recent form is a compelling dart throw, well above Fetner's +406 valuation.
The final pick targets Colorado's Brenton Doyle, who thrives against left-handed pitching (.303 avg, .821 OPS since last season). He'll face Houston's Colton Gordon, who is making his first start of the year. The concern for Gordon is a clear historical split: 19 of his 21 homers allowed this season have been to right-handed batters, who have hammered him for a .892 OPS. Doyle's power potential in this matchup makes him a sharp play to go deep on Tuesday.
