Less than a month remains until the commencement of the 2021 Major League Baseball season. The time has come for bettors to contemplate their choices of MLB player props that pique their interest at West Virginia sportsbooks.
April 1 marks the start of the new year, with a grand opening day boasting 15 thrilling games, ensuring that every one of the 30 teams will grace the field.
While it can be enjoyable to place bets on individual games throughout the season, it adds an extra layer of excitement to have a couple of season prop bets. With the MLB schedule returning to its 162-game format, it’s quite satisfying to have some ongoing action and anticipation for the long run.
In addition to wagering on team props such as win totals, online sportsbooks in WV provide a wide range of player props. These options encompass popular markets like the MVP and Cy Young awards, as well as season leaders and player totals.
In this analysis, we will assess the most enticing player props for the upcoming MLB season and evaluate their likelihood of occurring.
NL MVP betting at WV sportsbooks
Each year, the MVP market remains highly sought after. Bettors find great pleasure in selecting a handful of players to win the award at the start of the season due to the overwhelmingly favorable odds.
The odds for a few of the leading players in every league are approximately +1000.
In 2021, there are numerous teams within the Mountain State that possess talented individuals who have the potential to compete for the prestigious MVP title.
Juan Soto from Washington has just as good chances as any other player in the National League to win the coveted hardware this season.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook in WV, the outfielder, who is 22 years old, has the same odds of +750 as the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts.
Soto has quickly emerged as one of the league’s top young talents, despite having only showcased his skills in limited appearances. During the previous truncated season, he boasted an impressive batting average of over .350, along with a remarkable 13 home runs and 37 RBI in a mere 47 games.
Soto, with his impressive baseball stats, recorded a slugging percentage of almost .700 along with an outstanding OPS of 1.185. These remarkable numbers secured Soto the fifth spot in the MVP voting last year, catering to the preferences of avid baseball stat enthusiasts.
There is no evidence to suggest that he will decrease his pace, and his chances are accurately portrayed at WV sportsbooks.
Soto is listed at +700 on FanDuel WV, whereas BetMGM Sportsbook WV displays him at +750.
There are multiple NL candidates capable of assembling an outstanding season and contending for the award.
DraftKings has set the odds for both Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds and Trea Turner of the Nationals at +5000.
Despite not having a high batting average, Suarez managed to hit an impressive 15 home runs and drive in 38 runs in just 57 games. Furthermore, in 2019, he achieved a remarkable feat of hitting 49 home runs and surpassing 100 runs batted in for the second time in his career.
In a challenging season for the Nats, Turner stood out with his exceptional performance. He topped the NL with an impressive 78 hits, maintaining a remarkable batting average of .335 across 59 games. True to his versatile nature, Turner showcased his all-around skills by hitting 15 doubles, 12 home runs, and successfully stealing 12 bases.
NL MVP long shots
Ke’Bryan Hayes, a familiar name among Pittsburgh Pirates fans, is not an unexpected presence at the bottom of the MVP list. Despite his limited role last season, the 24-year-old managed to showcase his impressive skills.
In his rookie season, Hayes recorded an impressive batting average of .376, securing 32 hits out of 85 at-bats. Additionally, he showcased remarkable power by delivering 14 extra-base hits.
Despite the Pirates’ anticipated tough season, Hayes undoubtedly shines as a potential breakout player. He has a slim chance of winning the NL MVP this season, with odds set at +7500.
Hayes is the frontrunner to win the NL Rookie of the Year, making it a more realistic bet for him. According to DraftKings, he has the best odds at +400.
DraftKings mentions a few players from local teams, while the online sportsbook provides the odds for the NL MVP.
- The Washington Nationals’ odds for Josh Bell are +10000.
- The Reds’ odds of winning, as represented by Nick Castellanos, are +10000.
- The Cincinnati Reds have odds of +10000 to acquire Mike Moustakas.
AL MVP odds at WV sportsbooks
There are multiple Cleveland Indians players open for betting on the American League MVP.
Third baseman Jose Ramirez is among the top contenders for the award and has emerged as a key leader on his team following shortstop Francisco Lindor’s departure to the Mets.
During the shortened season, he appeared ready for the challenge by achieving a batting average of .292, which was almost 40 points higher than Ramirez’s performance in 2019.
In addition to his 17 homers and 46 RBI, the infielder topped the AL charts with 45 runs scored. His exceptional performance throughout the year earned him a well-deserved second place in the MVP vote, narrowly trailing behind Jose Abreu from Chicago.
In 2021, Ramirez is ranked fourth by DraftKings in terms of his chances of winning the award. His odds are listed at +1200, placing him behind Mike Trout (+200) and Alex Bregman (+1000), but on par with Aaron Judge.
If Ramirez manages to maintain the momentum he has gained leading up to this season, he may have a chance to emerge as a winner.
DraftKings and BetMGM offer the same odds, but FanDuel slightly deviates by placing Ramirez at +1300.
Franmil Reyes, his teammate, is also listed as a contender for MVP according to sportsbooks. On DraftKings, he has odds set at +8000.
Reyes, a promising player with immense potential, is quickly making a name for himself. At the age of 25, this Dominican talent showcased his skills by hitting a remarkable 37 home runs in 2019, split between his stints with San Diego and Cleveland.
He showcased his ability to hit for average last year too, as Reyes achieved a batting average of .275 and achieved the highest on-base percentage of his entire career at .344.
While it’s unlikely that he will be in the running for an MVP award this year, it’s important to remember that anything can happen.
MLB player totals
MLB’s top players are often recognized through their individual player totals, extending beyond mere predictions for leading the league in home runs. Betting options now encompass specific wagering on their personal achievements.
Several of the top guys in the region are offered these markets.
Bettors have the option to bet on whether Soto will achieve more or less than 38.5 home runs and 118.5 RBI.
Cleveland’s Ramirez total of 32.5 home runs for the upcoming season is also available for betting on DraftKings.
The online sportsbook offers Washington’s Turner for the total number of hits. Pleasing the over backers, he will bring satisfaction if he achieves 184 hits this year.
Last year’s seventh-placed MVP vote recipient, the Nationals’ shortstop, currently holds the second-highest likelihood of stealing the most bases. With odds set at +450, he trails behind the favorite, Adalberto Mondesi of Kansas City, who sits at +100.
Turner has managed to surpass 40 steals on two different occasions, reaching a peak of 46 steals in the year 2017.
Shane Bieber from Cleveland and Luis Castillo from Cincinnati are top contenders for wins, especially in terms of pitchers.
After achieving 15 victories in the previous year, Bieber continued his winning streak in 2020 with an impressive 8-1 record. DraftKings offers odds of +1300 for him to secure the top spot.
Castillo has achieved a personal best of 15 wins. In the upcoming season, he aims to surpass that record and is currently listed at +2000 odds to secure the highest number of wins in baseball.