Monday’s trimmed MLB slate still has plenty of home run appeal, and three bats stand out if you’re hunting for long-shot power plays.
Yordan Alvarez is the headliner. The Houston Astros slugger enters Monday’s game against the Washington Nationals hitting .320 with 29 homers, and he’s been even hotter over the past week, batting .435 with four home runs and a 1.418 OPS over six games.
That surge comes at a good time against a Nationals pitching staff that has been leaking power. Washington is sending veteran Miles Mikolas to the mound, and he’s already allowed 18 home runs in 18 appearances while carrying a 5.44 ERA.
If Alvarez doesn’t get him, the bullpen has been a problem too: the Nationals have given up 63 home runs as a unit and rank 27th in bullpen ERA at 5.03. Alvarez has crushed right-handed pitching all season, with 21 homers, a .329 average and an OPS north of 1.100.
His price sits at +214, which isn’t exactly a bargain, but the form and matchup make him tough to ignore as he chases his 30th homer.
Shohei Ohtani is another name worth circling. He was on the card Sunday against the Padres and went 1-for-3 in a Dodgers loss, but the setup looks better Monday night against the Colorado Rockies and left-hander Kyle Freeland.
Ohtani has posted an .822 OPS and six homers against lefties in 2026, and he’s been especially comfortable against Freeland, going 7-for-13 with a double, two home runs and a 1.677 OPS in their head-to-head meetings. Freeland has had a rough season, allowing 16 homers in as many outings while putting up a 7.25 ERA.
That makes him a clear fade against a Dodgers lineup that can punish mistakes in a hurry.
The third option is Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, who returned from the injured list over the weekend and wasted no time making noise. In New York’s series against the Minnesota Twins, he went 3-for-9 with four runs scored and his ninth homer of the season.
Now he gets a Monday matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays and converted reliever Griffin Jax, who has surrendered 11 home runs in 60.0 innings this season. Jax’s 3.45 ERA is respectable, but Grisham already took him deep in their only career meeting.
The Rays bullpen has also been vulnerable, posting a 4.36 ERA and allowing 54 home runs, so even if Jax doesn’t stay in long, Grisham still has a path to No. 10 in 2026.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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