MLB Today’s Best Bets for August 6: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

Written By Justin Carlucci | Published at August 6, 2026

Jul 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Happy Thursday! Welcome back to my best MLB bets for August 6. We've got a full slate to dig into, and I'm locked in on one strikeout prop and a pair of home run picks. Now, let's dive into my top MLB player props for today's action.

Best MLB Bets Today: Player Props for August 6

Brandon Young under 5.5 strikeouts at -150 on DraftKings Sportsbook is my top MLB bet today. The Angels are in Baltimore to face the Orioles at Camden Yards with a 12:35 p.m. ET first pitch, and the platoon split here is doing a whole lot of heavy lifting.

Young has been perfectly respectable against right-handed hitters this season with a 24% strikeout rate. Against lefties? That number drips all the way down to 16%, and he owns a below-average whiff rate, according to Baseball Savant.

The one thing that gives me pause is his chase rate, which is genuinely elite. But dig into the splits and the same pattern shows up — he gets righties to expand the zone far more often than he gets lefties to do it.

Meanwhile, the Angels are projected to roll out five lefties against him today. Even the righty side of the lineup isn't a bailout. Vaughn Grissom carries just a 17% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching in 2026. It might be tough sledding for Young to hit six strikeouts today.

Best Bet: Brandon Young Under 5.5 Strikeouts DraftKings, -150

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Home Run Picks Today: Pete Alonso

Now, for my MLB home run picks today! Staying at Camden Yards, give me Pete Alonso to go deep at +290 on DraftKings against Angels righty Ryan Johnson.

Alonso has never needed a platoon edge to do damage. He's mashed righties and lefties alike his entire career, and 2026 is no exception with a .233 ISO vs. RHP.

Johnson, meanwhile, has been a batting practice machine. He's surrendering an ISO north of .200 to hitters from both sides of the plate. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in just the 15th percentile in barrel rate allowed, and he's keeping the ball on the ground at a well-below-average clip.

The bottom line on Johnson: 12 home runs allowed in only 60.2 innings pitched, and he has a terrible ERA with bad advanced metrics.

Best Bet: Pete Alonso to Hit a Home Run DraftKings, +290

MLB Home Run Predictions: Kyle Schwarber

Now to Citizens Bank Park, where Miles Mikolas draws the Phillies. Mikolas is allowing a .209 ISO to left-handed hitters in 2026, and that is a terrifying number to bring into South Philly.

This Phillies lineup is loaded with lefty thump in Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh. I'm rolling with Schwarber at +216 to go deep.

Schwarber's advanced metrics are elite across the board, which surprises nobody. Mikolas ranks no better than the 19th percentile in either barrel rate or hard-hit rate this season.

Cherry on top: it's going to be muggy and in the high 80s in South Philadelphia, so that ball is going to be flying. Stack that on a bad matchup for Mikolas and Schwarber's raw power, and +216 is a price worth taking.

Best Bet: Kyle Schwarber to Hit a Home Run DraftKings, +216

Good luck, and let's cash some MLB best bets today!