On June 9, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds (33-33) are set to face the Cleveland Guardians (34-30) at Progressive Field. The Reds are fresh off a sweep against the Arizona Diamondbacks and are bringing the momentum into this matchup. Wade Miley, despite his current 18.00 ERA, has a chance to turn things around facing the Guardians’ Luis L. Ortiz, who boasts a solid 4.02 ERA. The Guardians narrowly avoided a sweep against the Astros last week, showcasing their resilience.

Key players like Jose Trevino and Christian Encarnacion-Strand are crucial for the Reds, while Cleveland’s Bo Naylor, who had an impressive 3-for-4 outing with a home run in his last game, will look to lead the Guardians. Recent trends highlight that the Guardians have been dominant against the Reds at home, winning their last three matchups. Betters should keep an eye on the total runs, with the last three road games for the Reds against the Guardians staying under the total.

The Cleveland Guardians are struggling to find consistent production from the No. 2 spot in their batting order, a gap between Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez that has been detrimental to their performance as they vie for the American League Central lead. Despite Kwan's exceptional skills as a leadoff hitter and Ramirez's established prowess as one of the league's MVP candidates, the No. 2 slot has been a black hole of offensive output.

With a combined wRC+ of 37, the Guardians' No. 2 hitters rank dead last in Major League Baseball, hitting just .168 with a paltry on-base percentage of .229. However, when Ramirez occupied this position earlier in the season, his production was significantly above league average, highlighting the necessity for a more effective answer at this pivotal spot. Multiple players have been tried without success, leading to continued experimentation.

The Cleveland Guardians aim to regain momentum as they face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who sport the most expensive roster in MLB history. Tanner Bibee, with a 3.57 ERA this season, is taking the mound for the Guardians, while the Dodgers will counter with Dustin May, whose season has been marred by injuries but shows promise with his electric pitching.

In a recent roster adjustment, the Guardians activated Hunter Gaddis and pushed back Slade Cecconi due to a groin injury. This could lead to a bullpen game for Wednesday's matchup against the Dodgers, as the team prepares for a pivotal homestand that includes facing the Angels and Yankees shortly thereafter.

On May 22, 2025, MLB enthusiasts have favorable home run prop betting opportunities to explore. Significant matchups feature players like Gavin Sheets, Brent Rooker, and Trevor Story, all of whom have been noted for their potential to hit home runs based on current conditions and opposing pitchers.

Gavin Sheets, facing Bowden Francis, boasts impressive stats against righties, making him a prime candidate for a long ball. Brent Rooker, going up against Tyler Anderson, continues to show strong performance against left-handed pitchers. Alec Bohm presents intriguing odds at Coors Field, while Bo Naylor and Trevor Story also make the list for their favorable matchups. With five strong picks, bettors might only need a couple of these players to hit home runs to profit.

Today’s MLB player prop bets focus on home runs, with several key players showing promising odds. Vinny Pasquantino from the Kansas City Royals is on a hot streak, hitting three home runs in the last week and facing pitcher Kyle Gibson, who has struggled against lefties. Bo Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians is another lefty to watch, with favorable metrics against pitcher Bowden Francis, who has been vulnerable to home runs this season. Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants is also highlighted, coming off a grand slam and facing a struggling pitcher in German Márquez. Riley Greene from the Detroit Tigers maintains momentum, recently hitting two homers in one game. Lastly, Nathaniel Lowe from the Washington Nationals presents solid value in today's match-up.