MLB Today’s Best Bets for April 9: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

Thursday's MLB slate is on the smaller side with The Masters kicking off at Augusta, but we're still hunting for the best MLB bets today on April 9. There's still value out there, and we've got home run picks today and a pair of pitching props, including a plus-money play on the board. Let's get to the picks.

Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for April 9

Seth Lugo under 4.5 strikeouts is one of my favorite MLB player props today, and you can grab it at plus money on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Kansas City Royals take on the Chicago White Sox at 7:40 PM EST tonight. I'm scaling down my unit size slightly — nothing is jumping off the page today — but the plus-money odds are definitely some value.

The White Sox are currently striking out at the second-highest clip against right-handed pitchers this season. However, per Baseball Savant, Lugo ranks in just the 26th percentile in whiff percentage and is roughly league average in chase percentage.

He throws a handful of pitches but has no putaway percentage higher than 21% on any offering, according to Baseball Savant. It's a case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object — but the odds tip the scales in our favor. The White Sox are also projected to roll out at least three hitters who struck out below 20% against right-handed pitching last season. One caution: Lugo threw over 100 pitches in his last start, so the Royals aren't afraid to let him work deep. That said, positive odds on a small slate with limited options are hard to pass up.

Best Bet: Seth Lugo Under 4.5 Strikeouts DraftKings, +117

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MLB Player Props: Max Meyer Over 5.5 Strikeouts

Next up on the best MLB bets today card is Max Meyer of the Miami Marlins over 5.5 strikeouts at -132 on FanDuel Sportsbook. The Marlins and Reds square off at lunchtime today, and although I'm not in love with any prop today, Meyer is right up there with Lugo for me.

The Reds are currently striking out at a top-10 clip in baseball against right-handed pitching this season. Meyer has struck out five and six batters, respectively, in his two starts, going from 81 pitches in his opener to 89 in his second. I think there's room to hit 90 or more today if he's really cruising, and that's a big deal for this prop.

Meyer's best out pitch is his slider — he owns an elite 38% putaway percentage and 58% whiff percentage with it, via Baseball Savant. He throws that pitch a little over a third of the time to opposing hitters. If he gets ahead in counts, there are a handful of Reds who really struggled against that pitch in 2025.

Give me Max Meyer to hit six strikeouts or more today as one of my best MLB player props Thursday.

Best Bet: Max Meyer Over 5.5 Strikeouts FanDuel, -132

Home Run Picks Today: Giancarlo Stanton

Now for some MLB home run bets today. Jeffrey Springs takes on the New York Yankees tonight, and we're going to attack him with right-handed power. Across the last two seasons, Springs gave up a .228 ISO and a .239 expected ISO when throwing his fastball to right-handed hitters. That's terrible news for him, given the righties in New York's lineup.

Aaron Judge is well inside 3-1, but give me Giancarlo Stanton at +320 on FanDuel Sportsbook instead. And if you want to get a little creative, sprinkle a fraction of a unit on Randal Grichuk, who is around +500.

Grichuk hasn't played much this season, but he was brought in specifically for lefty platoon matchups like this one. Across his career, he has a .232 ISO against left-handed pitchers with a 117 wRC+. He's a better hitter against lefties, and while he's no longer the feared hitter he once was, you can pick your spots at five-to-one. But the real bet here for home run picks today is Stanton per matchup and price.

Best Bet: Giancarlo Stanton to Hit a Home Run FanDuel, +320

That wraps up the best MLB bets today card, including today's top MLB HR picks. Good luck!

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