Juan Soto's .480 Batting Average is No Joke, And This Expert's Home Run Picks Are Must-See

Alright, Emerald City, listen up! We're deep enough into the season now where player form isn't just a blip, it's straight-up emerging as a fact, and one of the best in the business, SportsLine expert Adam Thompson, just dropped his predictions for who's gonna send one flying out of the park tonight, June 18th. This guy isn't just guessing, either. Thompson's known for being an analytics-driven exploiter of matchups across the NFL, MLB, and NBA, and get this: he's up over 70 units in MLB bets and 60 units in NBA over the last two seasons. So when he speaks, we listen, especially when he's talking about bats on fire like Juan Soto's!

Juan Soto's Bat is on FIRE and Philly Fans Are Sweating

You know we're always scouting talent in the league, looking for those power bats that make you stand up. And right now, Juan Soto is showing everyone what he's made of. Thompson has him pegged to go yard for the Mets, and for good reason. Soto is on an absolute roll this week, hitting a robust .480, including two home runs, with only three strikeouts. He just went 3-for-5 on Wednesday against the Reds, snagging a double and driving in four RBI! Seriously, that's clutch hitting emerging big-time.

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Tonight, Soto faces Phillies veteran Aaron Nola, who is giving up homers at a career pace. Nola got tagged for two home runs against the Brewers in his last outing, and to make matters even crazier, winds close to 20 mph are expected to be blowing out to right field at Citizens Bank Park. Even though Soto has a modest three homers in 40 career at-bats against Nola, his hefty .946 OPS against him shows he sees the ball well. With Soto’s current form and Nola's struggles, Thompson is siding with the wind and the hot bat. Who wouldn't?

Ryan Weathers Can't Keep It in the Park, And Vargas Is Ready to Feast

But Soto isn't the only slugger Thompson is looking at. He's also eyeing Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox, who is stepping up to face Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Weathers. And let me tell you, Weathers has been struggling big-time. He just can't keep the ball in the park, giving up a whopping seven home runs over his last three starts, with at least two in each game! That's a trend you simply can't ignore, folks.

The White Sox, even without emergent slugger Munetaka Murakami in the lineup, are no slouches themselves, ranking No. 3 in MLB with 100 home runs hit. Vargas himself has only one home run since June 1, and just three extra-base hits in that span, which might seem quiet. But here’s the kicker: nearly half of his 16 total home runs, seven of them, have come against left-handed pitching, despite him having 110 fewer at-bats against southpaws. He's hitting a stellar .338 against lefties compared to just .207 against right-handers. If Weathers is a lefty, Vargas is absolutely primed to cash in on those home run-friendly pitches.

So, while we're watching these sluggers make noise around the league and seeing these early season trends emerge, remember what's happening at home in the Emerald City. It was a rough one for our Mariners today, June 18th, falling to the Baltimore Orioles 5-3. You always hate to see it, especially when every game matters to set the tone for the long season ahead. We know Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez are working hard to turn things around for our squad. We'll be right there, bleeding green and blue, for the next one. Let's get 'em next time, Seattle!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.