San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Conforto (8). Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

MLB home run props for Thursday 4/18: Best dinger bets for late games

As hot as we've been in strikeout props this week, we've been just as cold in home run props. We need a winner to turn this streak around, so let's find one with our three favorite HR props for Thursday night's MLB slate. 

Bryan De La Cruz (+600 FanDuel)

Marlins vs. Cubs, 7:40 p.m. ET

Chicago Cubs starter Jameson Taillon, who gave up a career-high home run rate of 4.1 percent last year, will be making his first start of the season on Thursday night. We're interested in fading the right-hander coming off a back injury, and we're going to do so with Bryan De La Cruz. De La Cruz is the hottest hitter in the Miami Marlins lineup, batting .360 with two home runs and a 1.080 OPS over his last six games. All three of his homers this season have come off right-handers, so we like his chances of staying hot in the power department.

Lourdes Gurriel (+1060 FD)

Diamondbacks vs. Giants, 9:45 p.m. ET

This price is way too high for how well Lourdes Gurriel is swinging the bat. Gurriel leads the Arizona Diamondbacks this season in home runs (five), RBIs (20) and home runs against right-handed pitching. The wind will also be blowing out to right-center field at Oracle Park. San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb limits the long ball well, but this price is too high to ignore on the best D-backs power hitter so far this season. 

Michael Conforto (+560 FD)

Diamondbacks vs. Giants, 9:45 p.m. ET

Michael Conforto is swinging a hot bat to start the 2024 season. The Giants outfielder leads the team in home runs (four), RBIs (14) and slugging percentage (.554) through 17 games played, and he ranks 26th in MLB among 189 qualified hitters in hard-hit rate. In limited action against Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson, Conforto is 3-7 with a double and a home run. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Atlanta to be first race of NASCAR's In-Season Tournament
West Point alum made history in his MLB debut with Reds
Heat legend cautions Lakers against hiring JJ Redick
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark sets infamous record in debut
Jalen Brunson leads Knicks to blowout win in Game 5 vs. Pacers
Nikola Jokic torches DPOY to lead Nuggets past Wolves in Game 5
Oilers use late heroics to tie Canucks at two games each
Watch: Astros pitcher ejected after foreign substance check
Kirk Cousins not angry with Falcons because winning is 'hard enough'
Bronny James has surprising comments on potentially teaming up with LeBron
Bills add two-time Super Bowl champ to new-look WR room
Brewers lose team-leading home run hitter to injured list
Sandy Alderson denies involvement in Mets, Billy Eppler IL controversy
Twins reliever shut down for six weeks with patellar tendon tear
Chris Finch throws shade at Nuggets star over Rudy Gobert’s fine
Cardinals head coach warns not to bet against Kyler Murray
Details emerge on Jason Kelce’s role at ESPN
Rangers defenseman wins Mark Messier Leadership Award
Ex-NFL head coach takes over as Arena Football League commish
Yankees young stud takes major step in return from injury

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.