MLB Home Run Props, Picks & Odds Today for May 18: Ohtani Sho's the Way

James Bisson - Head of Content, Betting
James Bisson • Head of Content, Betting 16+ years betting experience
Updated: May 18, 2025 , 09:39 AM ET • 4 min read

Tony Sartori breaks down the MLB betting board and offers up his favorite MLB home run props for Sunday, May 18, including Shohei Ohtani and Pete Alonso.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) at bat in the second inning.
Photo By - Imagn Images. Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) at bat in the second inning.

There is a loaded 15-game MLB slate on Sunday, with plenty of MLB player props to choose from.

I have compiled my three best home run props for Sunday. As always, monitor the odds and available pricing, as the player prop market is constantly changing.

Here are my free MLB home run picks for Sunday, May 18.

Best MLB home run props today

  • TEAM Ohtani to hit a home run (+275)
  • TEAM Tatis Jr. to hit a home run (+370)
  • TEAM Pete Alonso to hit a home run (+425)
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HR picks for May 18

Shohei Ohtani (+275 at DraftKings)

The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Los Angeles Angels in the afternoon portion of Sunday’s MLB slate. Shohei Ohtani leads all of Major League Baseball with 16 home runs and is in a strong position to extend that number on Sunday.

Entering this matchup in good form, Ohtani has hit four home runs over the past four games. That success is likely to continue against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who takes the mound for the Angels.

Kikuchi ranks in the bottom third of the league in expected ERA (xERA), average exit velocity, and barrel rate. Meanwhile, through 24 plate appearances against Kikuchi, Ohtani boasts a .739 slugging percentage with three home runs.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (+370 at DraftKings)

At the same time, the San Diego Padres host the Seattle Mariners. Like Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr. enters this contest in great form, which is why he gets a spot in my MLB picks today.

Over his past seven games, Tatis Jr. boasts a .607 slugging percentage and .951 OPS. He has hit three home runs during that stretch.

Furthermore, Tatis Jr. has previously succeeded against right-hander Bryan Woo, who takes the mound for Seattle. In their lone meeting, Tatis Jr. went 1-for-3 with a home run.

Pete Alonso (+425 at DraftKings)

ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” features the New York Yankees hosting the New York Mets. Left-hander Max Fried takes the mound for the Yankees, and he appears due for regression.

Despite posting an immaculate 1.11 ERA through nine starts this season, the southpaw owns a 3.59 xERA. If anyone is likely to capitalize on this expected regression, it’s Pete Alonso.

Through 42 plate appearances against Fried, Alonso boasts a .472 slugging percentage, .577 expected slugging percentage (xSLG), and two home runs. Alonso is also one of baseball’s top power hitters this season, ranking in the 98th percentile in xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate.

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James Bisson
Head of Content, Betting

James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief at Covers. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, including a nine-year stint with The Canadian Press and more than five years at theScore. He has covered dozens of marquee events including the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Stanley Cup final and Wrestlemania 23, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Yahoo! Sports, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.

His book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008 and earned him appearances on CBC Radio and Canada AM. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews, more than 200 industry news articles, and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles.

A graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), James has been an avid bettor since the early 2000s, and cites bet365 as his favorite sports betting site due to its superior functionality and quick payouts. His biggest professional highlight: Covering Canada's first Olympic gold medal on home soil – and interviewing Bret Hart. Twice.

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