MLB Futures: Best Bets for RBI Leader (2020)
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The Major League Baseball season is right around the corner, which is why we see all of the major sportsbooks posting all sorts of different futures on the board. One of the more intriguing races is the one to be the 2020 RBI leader. Let’s take a look at some of the key names on the board and make our pick. And here are our consensus odds for 2020 RBI leader.
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Juan Soto (WSH)
Odds To Lead MLB In RBI’s: +1500
The young star who helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series will hit his share of home runs and make the Nats formidable in the National League. However, if we are to judge his chances of winning the RBI title, the absence of Anthony Rendon, a key cog in the Nationals’ 2019 batting order who is now with the Los Angeles Angels, is going to give Soto less protection in the lineup. Rendon not being in the order will give opposing pitchers more reason to pitch carefully to Soto. They will be more inclined to walk him rather than challenge him and give him good pitches to hit.
J.D. Martinez (BOS)
Odds To Lead MLB In RBI’s: +2200
The elite slugger for the Boston Red Sox is arguably the second-best hitter in the American League behind Mike Trout. Martinez has power for all fields, and he hits in hitter-friendly Fenway Park, two big reasons to think highly of his chances to sneak up on the favorites and win a surprise RBI title. Remember, while he had just 105 RBI’s last season, he led the league with 130 in 2018.
Martinez is working with the handicap this season of not having Mookie Betts in the Boston lineup. Betts is now with the Dodgers, so Martinez is not as likely to get a maximum number of good RBI chances. Pitchers are going to pitch around him if they have the chance to do so.
Joey Gallo (TX)
Odds To Lead MLB In RBI’s: +2500
The young slugger for the Texas Rangers has exceptional talent and is likely to grow into a star. However, he doesn’t have a lot of support in the batting order and he isn’t as likely as the other three players above him to get a large number of RBI opportunities. One big question mark is how the new Texas Rangers’ stadium plays. It could be a hitter-friendly park but we don’t know yet. There’s also a period of adjustment that will probably happen, which makes Gallo a wild card in this competition. That being the case, I’m out on him.
Best Bet: Cody Bellinger (LAD)
Odds To Lead MLB In RBI’s: +1300
I don’t love betting favorites for these props, but Bellinger is one I’ll take a look at. The Dodger slugger had a huge 2019, topping 100 RBI’s and helping the Dodgers to a 106-win total in 162 games. He represents a very solid choice now that he will have Mookie Betts on base a lot when he hits, and he should get a lot of chances to drive in runs. The table should be set for him to lead the majors in runs – or at least be among the league-leaders. Keep in mind that the National League is not going to be at a disadvantage relative to the American League this season in terms of RBI totals because the designated hitter will be part of the National League.
The other key here is how Bellinger started last year. He played like he was shot out of a cannon, batting .500 in March and .416 in April. He had 37 RBI’s in his first 109 at-bats last season. He did well in April 2018 too, batting .306, although he only had 12 RBI’s in the month. I think he’s a prime candidate to get off to a hot start, which is what we’ll need for this prop.
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Dave Golokhov is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Dave, check out his archive and follow him @davegolokhov.