As the MLB gears up for its second half on July 17, all eyes are on the home run race. Leading the charge is Kyle Schwarber from the Philadelphia Phillies, boasting an impressive 32 homers this season, the most by a player in his age-33 season or older, despite not hitting one in Thursday's game against the New York Mets.

Initially, Aaron Judge was the favorite to lead in homers at +350, but Schwarber has now taken the lead at -130 with a season total of 52.5 homers. The last player from the Phillies to achieve this was Ryan Howard with 48 in 2008.

For those interested in home run betting, the expert reveals top picks for Friday:

• James Wood, Nationals (+285, DraftKings): Wood has been on fire, hitting 28 homers, including 12 in the last 12 games. He leads the majors with 89 runs and is on pace to reach 150 runs this season, a feat not seen since Jeff Bagwell in 2000. Wood excels against right-handed pitchers and will face Gage Jump, a lefty struggling with a 6.20 ERA.

• Willi Castro, Rockies (+447, FanDuel): With the Cincinnati Reds visiting Coors Field, Castro's chances look bright. He has seven homers this season and a solid .317 average at home. Against Reds pitcher Brady Singer, who has allowed 20 homers this season, Castro is one to watch, especially with favorable weather conditions for hitting.

With the MLB season heating up, these picks could provide excellent betting opportunities as fans eagerly anticipate the action.