CBS Sports identifies Rice and Happ as top MLB home run props for June 9
Analysis highlights structural advantages in matchups against Guardians’ Slade Cecconi and Rockies’ Tomoyuki Sugano
CBS Sports has identified New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and Chicago Cubs outfielder Christopher Happ as the leading home run prop bets for the 15-game Major League Baseball slate on Tuesday, June 9. The selection process focuses on specific player matchups and recent performance metrics within the context of the day’s scheduled fixtures.
Rice is favoured to hit a home run against Cleveland Guardians starter Slade Cecconi. This recommendation follows the absence of Yankees star Aaron Judge, who is sidelined with a rib injury sustained last week. Rice’s 2026 statistics include a batting average exceeding .300, an on-base plus slugging (OPS) rate over 1.000, and 18 home runs, with 13 of those coming against right-handed pitching.
Cecconi has allowed nine home runs in his first 10 starts this season, although he has not permitted one in his last three games. The analysis suggests Rice’s current form presents a favourable matchup against the Guardians’ right-hander, particularly given the increased responsibility Rice must assume in the Yankees lineup without Judge.
Christopher Happ is selected to hit a home run against Colorado Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano at Coors Field. Happ leads the Cubs with 14 home runs, 11 of which were hit from the left side. He is currently batting over .300 with an OPS over 1.000 over the last two weeks, leveraging his left-handed power against Sugano’s history of allowing home runs to left-handed batters.
Sugano has a 3.94 earned run average and has allowed 11 home runs this season, including eight to left-handed hitters. Coors Field is widely recognised as a hitter-friendly environment, which further supports the selection of Happ for the three-game series in Colorado.
The broader slate includes other headline games such as the Dodgers against the Pirates and the Phillies against the Blue Jays. CBS Sports has previously published MLB betting insights, including in a newsletter on 14 May 2026, which featured analysis across multiple sports including the NHL playoffs.
The identification of Rice and Happ as top picks reflects a focus on statistical trends and situational advantages within the MLB betting market, where home run props remain a popular wagering category.
