Free MLB Home Run Picks for June 18: Byron Buxton Best Bets

On June 18, CBS Sports provided MLB home run picks and odds for baseball bettors, focusing on Twins outfielder Byron Buxton as a standout option. SportsLine's data analyst Jacob Fetner highlighted Buxton among his top home run bets for Thursday's schedule, which featured a nine-game MLB slate, offering a mix of day and evening games for fans and bettors alike.

Fetner, who successfully hit on a significant portion of his home run picks last year, singled out Buxton due to his impressive performance. As of June 18, Buxton ranked third in the league with 23 home runs, having home runs in three of his last five games and five out of his last eight. This included notable performances such as two home runs from the Astros' Yordan Alvarez and another from Jake Bauers of the Brewers in recent outings.

For Thursday’s picks, along with Buxton, Fetner also recommended Jared Young and Dominic Canzone, adding confidence to his MLB home run props.

When discussing Buxton, Fetner noted his strong stats against right-handed pitchers, with a batting average of .270 and a .977 OPS across 204 plate appearances this season. Noteworthy was that 19 of Buxton's 23 home runs came off right-handed pitching. While Fetner pointed out that Buxton has performed better at home, he remained optimistic about Buxton’s chances on the road against a right-handed pitcher, acknowledging that there was no significant platoon advantage.

In conclusion, for MLB fans looking to place home run bets for June 18, Byron Buxton, along with Jared Young and Dominic Canzone, emerged as the top recommendations based on recent performance and statistical analysis.