MLB home run props for 4/19: We like Betts against the Mets

We're still looking for our first home run prop winner of the week, and we plan to do just that on Friday's loaded MLB slate. Let's finish the week strong with our three favorite HR bets. 

Rhys Hoskins (+500 FanDuel)

Brewers vs. Cardinals, 8:15 p.m. ET

St. Louis Cardinals starter Kyle Gibson is a must-fade in home run props right now. The right-hander has already surrendered five home runs in three starts, and he's giving up the sixth-highest barrel rate and the 14th-highest hard-hit rate among qualified pitchers. Rhys Hoskins ranks 14th in MLB in expected slugging percentage and barrel rate this season, per Baseball Savant, and this is a perfect matchup for him to get a hold of one. 

Christian Encarnacion-Strand (+340 FD)

Angels vs. Reds, 6:40 p.m. ET

We don't target Christian Encarnacion-Strand very often, and not because his name is so hard to spell, but the Cincinnati Reds first baseman is due for some positive regression in the power department. Encarnacion-Strand is slugging only .329 this season, but his expected slugging percentage is .526. That 0.197 difference is the third-highest in MLB. We can't think of a better time for him to snap his power slump than during a game at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park with the wind blowing straight out to center field. 

Mookie Betts (+360 DraftKings)

Mets vs. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. ET

It's not hard to convince bettors to ride Mookie Betts with a home run prop. The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger has six home runs and the second-best OPS in baseball this season. He hasn't gone yard in the last week but he's batting .435 with two doubles over that span. In 29 career at-bats against New York Mets starter Sean Manaea, Betts is batting .345 and slugging .862 with three home runs, two doubles and two triples. In a matchup that good, we'll take Betts at +360 every time.