MLB Today’s Best Bets for April 8: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

Wednesday's slate is loaded with afternoon baseball, and we're breaking down the best MLB bets today for April 8. We've got pitching props and home run picks today on the agenda, so let's get into it!

Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for April 8

Grant Holmes over 16.5 pitching outs is one of my favorite MLB bets today. You can grab this prop at -103 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Holmes pitched just five innings in the opener and threw 76 pitches, but in his second start, he threw six innings — 18 outs — and gave up just one hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks on 85 pitches. There's room for 90-plus pitches today, and part of the reason I'm comfortable with that is the Atlanta bullpen is taxed after using five relievers yesterday.

There's certainly some power in the Angels' lineup, but so far this season, Los Angeles ranks just 21st in wRC+ vs. right-handed pitchers, per FanGraphs. The Angels are also striking out at the fifth-highest clip against right-handed batters in 2026.

Holmes struck out just over 30% of right-handed hitters last season compared to 20% of lefties, and the Angels are projected to send out at least five — possibly six — right-handed hitters against him tonight. The platoon advantage and the tired bullpen both point in the same direction. Give me Holmes over 16.5 outs as one of the best MLB bets today.

Best Bet: Grant Holmes Over 16.5 Pitching Outs DraftKings, -103

MLB Player Props: Luis Severino Under 4.5 Strikeouts

Next up for MLB bets today is Luis Severino of the Athletics, who makes a familiar trip to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. It's a homecoming game of sorts after spending several years in pinstripes, but I'm not feeling nostalgic here. I like Severino under 4.5 strikeouts at -102 on DraftKings Sportsbook as one of my top MLB player prop picks today.

The Yankees are striking out at around 25% against right-handed pitching this season, which isn't pretty, but Severino simply isn't a strikeout pitcher. He struck out roughly 17% of hitters overall last season. According to Baseball Savant, Severino ranks in just the 55th percentile in whiff rate and the 36th percentile in chase percentage so far this season.

Last year, he ranked in the 6th percentile in whiff rate — that's not a typo. He's a soft-contact reliant pitcher, and that's a tough game to play against the New York Yankees.

Best Bet: Luis Severino Under 4.5 Strikeouts DraftKings, -102

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Home Run Picks Today: Jonathan Aranda

Let's talk MLB home run bets today. It's tough to bet home runs early in the season due to the cold weather, so I'd suggest scaling down unit size here. That said, I like this matchup. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago Cubs at Tropicana Field — a controlled hitting environment — with a healthy game total.

Colin Rea will start for the Cubs, and Chicago's rotation is in rough shape. Last season, Rea gave up 14 home runs in 308 at-bats against left-handed hitters, who also slugged .497 against him. He throws his fastball over 40% of the time to lefties, who posted a .233 ISO against it in 2025.

I like Aranda in this matchup at +410 on FanDuel Sportsbook. Aranda was off to a great start last season before injuries derailed what could have been a standout year in Tampa Bay.

Across the last two seasons, he has a .210 ISO and a .283 expected ISO against right-handed pitchers, with similar power numbers against right-handed fastballs — exactly what he'll see from Rea. He's already gone deep three times this season and is swinging a hot bat. At +410 in this matchup, the price is right, and that's why he's one of my favorite MLB home run bets today.

Best Bet: Jonathan Aranda to Hit a Home Run FanDuel, +410

Our best MLB bets today are in the books. Best of luck on Wednesday!

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