MLB Home Run Props, Bets & Picks: Friday (6/13)
The 2025 MLB season rolls on with another full slate of games on Friday. With 15 matchups and all 30 teams to choose from, let’s dive into the top MLB home run props, picks and predictions for Friday’s action.
Betting on specific players to hit a home run is a fun and alternative way to get action on MLB games. The plus-money odds can provide bigger payouts if you nail the right guy to go yard. Let’s focus on a couple of MLB players worth backing to hit a homer on Friday, June 13th.
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Friday's Best MLB Home Run Picks
(Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Gunnar Henderson (+320)
Gunnar Henderson started the season slowly, but he's been heating up lately. The Baltimore Orioles shortstop is hitting .406 with a 1.003 OPS since the beginning of June. He also has six multi-hit games over his past 10 contests.
Though Henderson only has eight home runs this year, the power should return soon. Don't forget that the talented infielder smashed 37 homers last year and 28 the season before as a rookie. We know the slugging ability is there.
Tonight presents a great opportunity for Henderson to go deep at home. Los Angeles Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz is sporting a 5.61 ERA and 1.63 WHIP this season. He has a 6.06 ERA on the road so far, with four or more runs allowed in four of his last six road starts.
The Angels right-hander has given up 11 home runs through 13 starts. His 1.47 HR/9 ratio is the league's 11th-worst among qualified MLB starters, while his 15.7% HR/FB rate is the seventh-worst.
Meanwhile, Henderson is crushing right-handed pitching this season with a .340 batting average, .571 slugging rate and .982 OPS. Plus, seven of his eight homers have come against right-handers as well. At home against righties, he boasts a .356 batting average, .644 slugging rate and 1.056 OPS with a .288 ISO.
This is the matchup Henderson excels in. The lefty swinger had a .592 slugging rate, .961 OPS and .283 ISO versus righties when hitting in Baltimore last year. As for Kochanowicz, he's given up 10 of his 11 homers to left-handed hitters this season. He's also allowing a .342 batting average, .575 slugging rate and 1.005 OPS to lefties overall.
The homers are coming for Henderson, and this is the perfect spot to back one of the league's hottest hitters. If you want to look at another Oriole to go yard, Jackson Holliday or Ryan O'Hearn are solid options as well.
Elly De La Cruz (+600)
Elly De La Cruz is one of the best power/speed players in the MLB. That was on full display last year when he hit 25 home runs with 67 stolen bases. This season, De La Cruz has 13 homers and 20 steals. Let's target the power side of his game in today's matchup.
The Cincinnati Reds shortstop is hitting well lately. Over the past 17 games, he has a .328 batting average, .672 slugging rate and 1.107 OPS. He's hit five home runs in this recent stretch as well. De La Cruz also has eight homers and a .934 OPS over his past 30 games.
Today, De La Cruz will face Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero, who will be the bulk pitcher today. The right-hander has a 4.30 ERA and 1.41 WHIP this year with eight homers allowed in nine outings. Montero has a 1.57 HR/9 ratio and a 15.1% HR/FB rate, which would both rank in the bottom 10 of MLB starters if he had enough innings to qualify.
The switch-hitting De La Cruz will be on the positive end of his splits while batting from the left side. He has a .295 batting average, .526 slugging rate and .911 OPS against right-handers compared to a .195 batting average, .333 slugging rate and .589 OPS against righties. He's also hit 10 of his 13 homers against righties this year.
Meanwhile, Montero has been notably worse against left-handed hitters this season. He's allowing a .338 batting average, .600 slugging rate and 1.018 OPS to lefties. The Tigers starter just coughed up three homers to the Cubs last time out. He also has a 4.37 ERA at home this year.
It's a great spot for De La Cruz to stay hot at the plate and take Montero deep. Last year, the Reds star hit 19 of his 25 homers against righties with a .249 ISO and .523 slugging rate in the split.