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MLB Monday player props: Best bets to hit a home run

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Home run props are one of the most electric markets in sports. There are few things more exciting than rooting for a player to go yard in what could potentially yield a huge payday.

In the first entry of a new series this baseball season, here are the top three candidates to hit a jack during Monday's action.

Brandon Lowe, Rays +480

The Braves' Mike Foltynewicz has been Jekyll and Hyde throughout most of his career. After a career year in 2018, he cratered last season. The hard-throwing right-hander served up a career-high 23 home runs, while his barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, and xSLG were all below average.

Foltynewicz is a great play when he faces a lineup he can navigate around. Conversely, he really seems to struggle against patient, potent lineups. That makes the Rays a nice buy for Monday, and I like Lowe at the current number.

Lowe's launch angle on fastballs last season was 22 degrees, the most of any pitch. He'll see plenty of them from Foltynewicz, who uses his four-seamer religiously alongside a wipeout slider. With Lowe in the two-hole, he should see four or five at-bats.

Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays +340

Hernandez is going to hit the snot out of the ball. Last season, he quietly ranked 33rd in baseball in average exit velocity, a year after finishing 21st.

Hernandez and the Blue Jays' offense should be licking their chops for the matchup against the Nationals in D.C., which features sunny skies and a light breeze blowing out to right field. Hernandez has a nice track record against Anibal Sanchez over a limited sample size, hitting a pair of home runs in six at-bats.

Eugenio Suarez, Reds +260

Monday's Cubs-Reds matchup could be a home run-fest if Mother Nature abides. Great American Ball Park - one of baseball's most hitter-friendly places - will have some winds blowing out to left field, which makes the right-handed-hitting Suarez an intriguing option.

The 29-year-old slugger has feasted on Chicago's Jon Lester over his career, bashing six home runs in 42 at-bats. Overall, the third baseman's hitting a gaudy .381 against the southpaw.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.

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