Thursday’s MLB schedule is trimmed down to just five games, but that hasn’t stopped the betting board from offering a few appealing home run looks.
The streak is still alive after Cody Bellinger delivered Wednesday at +494, making it three straight days with a home run prop hit. Keeping that run rolling gets tougher with such a small slate, but there are still some matchups worth attacking, including the series finale between the Rockies and Yankees.
One of the cleaner angles on the board is Yankees first baseman Luis Garcia Jr., who keeps doing damage against right-handers. He went deep Wednesday for his 29th homer of the season, and his numbers against right-handed pitching are strong: a .297 average, a .913 OPS and 26 of his 29 homers against righties. He’s also coming in hot, batting .329 with five home runs over the last four weeks, and .375 with a homer over the last seven days.
That sets up well against Colorado righty Ryan Feltner, who has allowed 19 home runs in 22 appearances this season and carries a 5.91 ERA. With the Yankees expected to have another productive night at the plate, Garcia stands out as their hottest left-handed bat right now. He’s listed as a strong play at +335.
Matt Olson is another name that fits the day. The Braves slugger draws the Rays and right-hander Nick Martinez, a pitcher who has surrendered 19 home runs in 27 games in 2026 despite a 3.04 ERA. The surface numbers look solid, but the deeper indicators are less encouraging: Martinez ranks in the 41st percentile in expected ERA, the 11th percentile in expected batting average allowed and the 18th percentile in ground-ball rate.
That matters against Olson, who has handled Martinez well in the past. He’s 6-for-16 (.375) against him with two homers and a 1.224 OPS.
Olson is hitting .244 with 23 home runs against right-handed pitching this season, and he’s gone deep seven times over his last 25 games. In a matchup like this, he looks like a strong bet.
Kyle Schwarber is the pricier option, and that’s usually not the kind of home run prop I love to play at shorter than 2/1 odds. But on a small slate, it’s hard to ignore one of the best power bats in baseball.
Schwarber has 44 home runs this season and four in his last six games, during which he’s hitting .292. He gets a favorable matchup against Houston’s Cristian Javier, who owns a 5.98 ERA and has allowed nine home runs in 14 appearances in 2026. Schwarber has crushed right-handed pitching this year with 30 homers, and even if Houston turns to a lefty, he’s still been dangerous, posting a .930 OPS against southpaws.
Houston’s bullpen has improved as the season has gone on with a 4.09 ERA, but it has still given up 78 home runs in 2026. Schwarber is in position to keep pushing toward a 50-homer season.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
In Other News...
Braves Rotation Need Could Push Atlanta Toward An Intriguing Gamble
The Braves already made one move to bolster the rotation by adding Tyler Mahle at the trade deadline, but the work there does not figure to be finished once the offseason opens. Atlanta still has an obvious need to improve the starting staff, and that puts the front office in the market for pitchers who can offer upside without demanding the kind of certainty that usually comes at a premium.
Casey Mize fits that kind of discussion. CBS Sports Mike Axisa floated Atlanta as a possible landing spot for the free-agent right-hander, whose talent has shown through even as his performance has remained uneven this season. For a Braves club trying to keep pace in a demanding division, the appeal is clear, but the question is whether this is the sort of gamble the organization wants to make as it tries to deepen a rotation that still feels unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Outfield Uncertainty May Not Last As New Internal Options Emerge
The Braves outfield picture is still unsettled in the short term, but the organization may already have a few answers taking shape inside the system. With current roster decisions and free agency keeping the big-league mix in flux, Atlanta is looking closely at a group of younger options who could eventually factor into both the outfield and designated hitter spots.
Eric Hartman, AJ Gracia, Carter Beck and Owen Carey all got attention for the way they performed recently, and each brings a different kind of fit for the Braves to consider. The timeline is still gradual rather than immediate, but the idea that one or more of these players could push into meaningful roles over the next year and a half gives the front office something useful while the bigger-picture outfield situation remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Pitching Shuffle Puts Reynaldo Lopez In A Spotlight Again
The Braves continued to reshape their pitching group amid the series with the Rays, adding left-hander Bailey Falter to the major-league roster and designating right-hander Elieser Hernandez for assignment. The roster moves came alongside a more significant development for Atlantas rotation, with Reynaldo Lopez reinstated from the injured list and lined up to start the upcoming game.
Bryce Elders move to the injured list after knee surgery added another layer to the shuffle, leaving Atlanta to lean on depth it has been forced to test often. For Lopez, the return puts him back in a familiar spotlight at a time when the Braves are still sorting out how their staff fits together over the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]