The Texas Rangers remain hopeful that Wyatt Langford, their No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, will evolve into a major league star. Although Langford is still developing as a player, he has demonstrated notable power improvements this season, hitting 14 home runs in just 72 games after producing 16 homers over 134 games during his rookie year. With a strong opportunity on Thursday in a hitter-friendly ballpark, Langford is a top MLB home run pick, listed at +475 in the latest odds.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every MLB game 10,000 times, has been outstanding in predicting home run props this season, gaining over 40 units. After its 3-for-3 success on Wednesday, the model has highlighted Langford as a key player to watch in a matchup that favors power hitting on Thursday, supporting the appeal of Wyatt Langford MLB home run picks.
Langford’s Recent Performance and Favorable Conditions Boost His Odds
Wyatt Langford recently showcased excellent hitting in Anaheim, recording a home run and a double on Tuesday and following that with a two-hit game. His average exit velocity has risen to 91.1 mph, alongside improvements in his hard-hit contact rate to 47.7%, and a flyball rate approaching 30%. These advancements suggest more consistent power production from the 23-year-old outfielder.
Langford is a streaky hitter and coming off back-to-back two-hit games is a good time to buy Langford stock to hit a HR,
said SportsLine data analyst Jacob Fetner.
According to Statcast, Angels Stadium is playing as the fourth-most HR friendly park this season. Angels’ starter, Jack Kochanowicz, has struggled at Angels Stadium, where opponents are hitting .310 against him.
DraftKings offers the best odds for Langford’s home run prop, highlighting the betting value in this matchup.
Jonathan Aranda’s Unexpected Rise Makes Him a Threat at +550
Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays has become a surprise contender for the batting title this season after years of limited playing time and modest production. Currently batting an impressive .327 with an on-base percentage of .403 and slugging .498, Aranda has tallied 11 home runs and 19 doubles. His approach has shifted from hitting many hard-hit groundballs to launching line drives, which could translate to more power given his high 93.2 mph average exit velocity.
Aranda has four at-bats against Walker Buehler and is 2-for-4 with a HR and a single. Aranda’s success against Buehler makes sense considering Buehler is allowing left-handed batters to hit .333 this season. Left-handed batters have a .904 OPS against Buehler, and Aranda has a .944 OPS against right-handed pitchers,
Fetner explained.
We set the line at +460 for Aranda to homer.
BetMGM and bet365 present competitive odds here, with promotional bonuses encouraging bets on this promising matchup.
Pete Alonso Targets Early Success in Mets’ Doubleheader at +400
The New York Mets face a doubleheader on Thursday, and Pete Alonso is favored to hit a home run in the opening game, which begins at 12:05 p.m. ET. Known as the “Polar Bear,” Alonso enters with 21 home runs this season, including a recent stretch of three consecutive games with a homer. Leading the National League with 25 doubles, Alonso could benefit from the summer heat in turning some of those extra-base hits into long balls.
Alonso hasn’t had much success against Charlie Morton in his career, which is why you can get +400 for one of the league’s better power hitters, but Morton is 41 years and having his worst season in 10 years, so perhaps now is the time for Alonso to get to him,
Fetner noted.
Right-handed batters are hitting .294 against Morton this season, which is well above his career rate of .246.
The model’s line for Alonso to homer is set at +330, but BetMGM offers better value at +400, along with a bonus bet of up to $1,500 if your first wager loses.
Where to Place Your MLB Home Run Prop Bets on Thursday
Multiple sportsbooks have made MLB player prop bets available for Thursday’s games, providing a variety of promotional offers for new users. Caesars Sportsbook encourages bettors to double their winnings on their next 10 bets after wagering $1, using promo code CBSDYW. BetMGM offers up to $1,500 in bonus bets if the first bet loses, activated with promo code CBSSPORTS.
FanDuel provides $150 in bonus bets following a $5 qualifying wager, while DraftKings offers a similar bonus instantly with a $5 bet. Fanatics features “No Sweat Bets” up to $1,000 with no promo code required, and bet365 offers $150 in bonus bets regardless of a win or loss with promo code CBSBET365.
Additional MLB Home Run Prop Picks for Thursday
In addition to Wyatt Langford, Jonathan Aranda, and Pete Alonso, the SportsLine model offers projections for a wide array of MLB player props, helping bettors identify outstanding values across the league. With the model’s successful track record and in-depth analysis by data scientists, these picks provide a cautious yet optimistic edge amid the excitement of Thursday’s power surge in baseball.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Wyatt Langford wear 36?
A. When it comes to giving Langford a proper baseball jersey number, the situation is a bit tricky. At the University of Florida, he wore number 36. A possible solution might involve arranging a swap with infielder Jonathan Ornelas, who sported the 36 jersey during spring training and will start the season at Triple-A.
Q. What happened to Wyatt Langford?
A. Langford has been sidelined with an oblique injury since June 24. He has been recovering well and shared with reporters that he believes he only requires one rehab game to rejoin Bochy’s team, as reported by Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports.
Q. Did Wyatt Langford get married?
A. This season, she has a batting average of .325, hitting four home runs and driving in 27 runs. Wyatt and Hallie started dating in Trenton and got married in December 2023.