Cal Raleigh lifted Seattle’s profile in a big way with his 47th homer of the season, the MLB lead among catchers and a shot at history that would eclipse Salvador Perez’s catcher mark. The two‑run blast in the seventh came as the Little League Classic audience roared, while Raleigh also connected with the weekend moments, autographing a toilet seat for a fan and donning a Little Dumper tee. Seattle fell 7-3 to New York, but Raleigh’s power is forging a standout pace for a catcher this year, prompting fantasy intrigue as the club pursues an AL wild-card spot and shifts to Philadelphia for a pivotal three-game set. Raleigh teased a possible milestone pace given his 27 HR in 2022, 30 in 2023, and 34 last year, now eyeing a 50+ pace that would join a tiny, elite club of 40+ homers by catchers. The historical context sits with five others who have reached 40+ as a catcher: Salvador Perez, Johnny Bench, Roy Campanella, Todd Hundley, and Mike Piazza. Raleigh’s feel for the moment extended beyond the bat, as his pregame chest protector carried a Mariners card motif and a Little League backdrop, underscoring the crossover between youth baseball’s spectacle and pro stardom. The night framed a veteran manager in Dan Wilson praising Raleigh’s hot bat, while the Mariners chased ground in the wild-card race and prepared for a showdown in Philadelphia.

Michael Harris II heads the four-pronged MLB HR props for 8/18/2025, with odds shaping up around a hitter-friendly environment in Atlanta. Salvador Perez taps into KC’s power at home with favorable conditions, Teoscar Hernandez looks to exploit Freeland’s lefty splits at Coors-adjacent risk, and Noelvi Marte dives into Angel Stadium against a pitcher with limited MLB exposure. Weather is a key note: humid air, dew points rising on the East Coast, and wind trends that can tilt the wall-opener in several parks. The lineup emphasizes value in left-handed power and high-velocity reversals, while reminding bettors to shop lines across books for max value. Humidity, dew points, and ballpark nuances are front and center, with four distinct paths to profit on HRs tonight.

Harris II in Atlanta brings a hot streak into a spot where left-handed power has thrived, Perez in Kansas City benefits from a hitter-friendly wind-out scenario, Hernandez in a Coors-influenced lane offers big-badge upside against a shaky righty, and Marte helps bettors lean into the Angels’ ballpark dynamics in a deeper slate. The piece blends park factors, pitcher splits, and recent trends to outline four distinct edges, each with its own risk, reward, and timing. The endgame is clear: chase four confident calls, navigate cool temps and potential rain, and maximize value through smart line shopping and matchup discipline.

Kansas City rode a late-inning surge to complete the series sweep, turning a six-inning no-no into a 6-2 win at Kauffman. Davis Martin carried a potential gem into the sixth, but Chicago’s bats stalled and the bullpen faded. Lenyn Sosa supplied the Sox with an early jolt via a 426-foot homer, yet KC countered with timely hits and a decisive late push. India tied it with a long two-run shot in the seventh, Witt Jr. sparked the eighth with a single and a swipe, and Salvador Perez delivered the capper as Adam Frazier homered in the late frames. The White Sox’ 14th straight loss at KC underscored a rough rebuild, while the Royals leaned on a mix of power and mobility to remind fantasy managers that depth in KC is real.

Antecedent to the collapse, Chicago had left 11 runners on base, and questions linger about the Sox’s bullpen stability. Benintendi’s rough patch amid a rough stretch was noted by teammates as the team tries to recapture momentum. Kansas City, meanwhile, leaned into its rising offense, leveraging Witt Jr.’s speed, Yastrzemski’s hot bat, and the veteran Perez to plate crucial runs down the stretch. The next slate will test both teams’ resilience, with KC aiming to keep the offense humming against upcoming contenders while Chicago tries to salvage what remains of a season teetering toward triple digits in losses.

Three homer-prop targets headline a midweek slate: Salvador Perez, Alex Bregman, Francisco Lindor. Perez draws Jake Irvin, who has allowed a high homer-rate this season, making Perez a strong power bet for KC. Bregman benefits from a rough 2025 for Walker Buehler, giving Houston a clear edge for a big night. Lindor, with 21 homers on the season, confronts Carlos Carrasco of Atlanta, who carries the highest HR/9 mark among notable starters.

The picks sit at appealing FanDuel odds: Perez at +470, Bregman at +460, Lindor at +360. Perez already homered in Monday’s opener, Bregman has posted a .549 slugging this season with 16 long balls, and Lindor has been Mets’ top source of power with 21 homers. The matchup specifics and power profiles create a compact, high-leverage night for fantasy and showdown bets.

In short, rostering a Perez-Bregman-Lindor trio or stacking Mets with Lindor’s hot bat could yield meaningful fantasy upside on a single-card night, especially when leveraged with HR-prop markets and a careful eye on lineup changes. Stay aware of any late-night shifts to pitching matchups, but the core trio remains the prime trio for today’s power bets.