Moises Ballesteros tied a historic Cubs milestone with his first major-league home run, a line-drive shot that Rizzo literally snagged back for luck at Wrigley as the ceremony honored the beloved ex-Cub. Chicago built a 3-0 edge behind Rea, but Tampa Bay surged late, fueling a 5-4 comeback as the bullpen couldn’t hold. Busch answered with a homer for Chicago, Caminero and Keller supplied the late power, and the ninth offered a glimmer of hope that Chicago couldn’t convert. Imanaga prepares for Sunday.

Rockies 6, Cubs 5 at Coors Field: Happ’s eighth-inning three-run homer tied the game, but Daniel Palencia couldn’t seal the deal in the ninth as two Rockies hits quickly ended it. Chicago had jumped early with Busch and Suzuki driving runs, yet starter Matthew Boyd wiggled through six, leaving the bullpen exposed. The loss completes a 5-4 trip in Colorado, complicating the wild-card chase with 25 games left. Cubs now head home to host Atlanta in a pivotal series.

Giants host Cubs at Oracle Park in Game 133 as Whisenhunt squares off with Rea. Whisenhunt carries a 4.91 ERA and 6.89 FIP across 18.1 innings, with 13 strikeouts and 9 walks, coming off a four-inning, two-run outing against Milwaukee. Rea owns a 3.96 ERA and 4.62 FIP over 127.1 frames with 93 K and 38 BB, last facing Milwaukee for five-plus innings with two runs allowed and five walks.

Friday’s MLB HR props spotlight four strong value plays: Reynolds, Rodríguez, Stanton, and Rooker. Reynolds carries a +500 shot at OVER 0.5 HR in a day game at Wrigley against Colin Rea, riding a streak of multi-HR weeks and solid righty power metrics. Rodríguez offers a +380 line versus Manaea, backed by a hot week and elite exit velocity. Stanton is a primary favorite at +280 after a timely IL return and 1.107 OPS over 21 days, facing Pallante in hot Busch Stadium conditions. Rooker checks in at +260 against Kikuchi, benefiting from his solid 1.017 OPS vs lefties and strong home power. Odds areDraftKings snapshots, but value gaps exist across sportsbooks for round robins.

Strategy hinges on batted-ball data, splits, weather, and park factors. Reynolds leans on right-handed pitching with power upside; Rodríguez thrives against lefties and in Mariners lineups; Stanton’s power profile and opponent matchup elevate his ceiling; Rooker’s lefty-friendly splits and home advantage boost his HR probability. This quartet provides upside without overpaying, ideal for multi-leg bets and balanced round robins. Shop for best odds to maximize the upside of each call.