It’s been quite a sight for sore eyes seeing the Phillies work out at Citizens Bank Park over the last several days. Even if the experts and sportsbooks are not thinking highly of the Phillies, those visuals and the schedule being released are giving fans the hope that soon we will see baseball in a couple of weeks.
With a 60-game sprint to the finish anything can happen when it comes to season leaders from a betting perspective. For instance, what if Bryce Harper catches lightning in a bottle right out of the gate and carries it through two months? 20-1 odds ($100 wager to win $2000) to win NL MVP at BetMGM might sound pretty good.
Also take a look at these numbers shown below on Harper from BetMGM.
At first glance 15.5 home runs seems doable for the right fielder in 60 games. However, if you look back to 2019, Harper only had 11 home runs through the first 60 contests. For those who think Harper will eclipse that 15.5 home run mark, one would have to wager $105 to win $100. Meanwhile, Harper tallied 43 RBI a season ago through 60 games, which makes the over/under of 35.5 interesting. To win $100, a bettor would have to wager $115 on either the over or the under.
BetMGM also has odds on Harper’s buddy J.T. Realmuto. Harken back to a season ago and Realmuto racked up 39 runs and 36 RBI which makes you think why is his over/under for both categories set at 26.5. Same can also be said for Realmuto’s over/under on hits. In 2019, he smashed 60 hits through 60 games yet his over/under is listed at 50.5. If you go back to 2018, Realmuto was even more productive with 73 hits in the first 60 games. This one should be interesting to watch.
MLB
Lastly, there is first baseman Rhys Hoskins — who hit .278, 13 HR and 42 RBI through 60 games last season. Hoskins’ over/under on RBI of 29.5 seems rather low. However, it’s important not to forget in 2019 that from game 61 to the end of the season (100 games), Hoskins hit just .198 with 16 HR and 43 RBI. So will the real Hoskins (the one from the beginning of 2019) please stand up.
So, a bettor and a Phillies fan with hopes of seeing a Red October would hope this trio of Phillies hits the over on most of these categories. That leads to this final note: Phillies to make the postseason per DraftKings: Yes +215 / No -275. A wager on yes will pay $215 on a $100 wager.
Baseball, hopefully, is just over two weeks away and we shall see if the Fightins prove the critics and oddsmakers wrong.
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