2021 MLB RBI Leader Bets: Picks & Sleepers For Who’ll Drive In Most Runs
@TaylorTarter2021 MLB RBI Leader Futures Bets: Most of the players with the best odds at leading the majors in RBI are very recognizable and not surprising to see atop the list. There are a few interesting 2021 RBI Sleepers. Odds used for 2021 MLB RBI Leaders Futures are courtesy of PointsBet.
2021 MLB RBI Leader Futures Bets
MLB RBI Leader Odds
- Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals (+800)
- Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angelnes (+1000)
- Marcell Ozuna, OF, Atlanta Braves (+1200)
- Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels (+1200)
- Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (+1500)
- Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox (+1500)
- Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres (+1500)
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH, New York Yankees (+1500)
- Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox (+2000)
- Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets (+2000)
- Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves (+2000)
Somewhat surprisingly, Jose Abreu comes up tied for the fourth-best odds at +2000, along with New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. Abreu led the MLB in RBI in 2020 and led the AL in 2019.
Another former RBI champ, Mike Trout, ties with Marcell Ozuna for the second-best odds at the crown. Ozuna led the NL in 2020, falling short of the major league lead by 4 RBI.
Giancarlo Stanton led the majors with 132 RBI in 2017.
About half of the top 10 to win the RBI crown in 2021 have never led even their division in the category.
2021 MLB RBI Leader Futures Bets: Odds, Picks & Sleepers. Chicago White Sox 1B and reigning AL MVP Jose Abreu could be a value bet to be the RBI leader in 2021. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Top promotions
2021 MLB RBI Leader Bet Picks
2021 MLB RBI Leader: Smart Money Bets
Jose Abreu (+2000)
prop bet
+2000
Jose Abreu To Lead MLB In RBI For 2021
Bet $20, Payout $420
The smart money bet is to put your money on the guy who has won the award the last two seasons – Jose Abreu. Over his career, he’s hit third or fourth in the order in 94 percent of his at-bats, so he has clear chances for RBI. Abreu was top 10 in Exit Velocity and Hard Hit% last season, and he was in the top 20 in Barrel%. He is elite at hitting the ball, and hitting it hard, so that gives him a great shot at a “three-peat” for the RBI title.
The players around Abreu also give him a shot at winning the title again. Tim Anderson and some combination of Yoan Moncada/Adam Eaton leading off the innings will help Abreu accrue RBI. It’s likely that on-base-machine Yasmani Grandal will hit in the 3-hole ahead of Abreu. Additionally, with Eloy Jimenez likely protecting Abreu in the order, he should get pitches to hit and will be tough to pitch around.
Pete Alonso (+2000)
prop bet
+2000
Pete Alonso To Lead MLB In RBI For 2021
Bet $20, Payout $420
Another smart bet here would be to put money on Pete Alonso. He puts the ball in the air nearly 60 percent of the time, and his career hard-hit percentage is 41.8 percent. He also had the highest maximum Exit Velocity last season at 118.4 mph.
Those factors should give him a chance to accrue some RBI, but here’s possibly the biggest reason for optimism: The Mets traded for Francisco Lindor, who is on base nearly 35 percent of the time. He’s likely to hit ahead of Alonso. Brandon Nimmo hit leadoff in 2020 in 41 games and had a .407 OBP in that spot. Having players like that ahead of him makes Alonso an enticing bet to lead the majors in RBI.
2021 MLB RBI Leader Futures Bets: Odds, Picks & Sleepers, including the Mets’ Pete Alonso. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2021 MLB RBI Leader: Sleeper Bets
Anthony Rendon (+3000)
prop bet
+3000
Anthony Rendon To Lead MLB In RBI For 2021
Bet $20, Payout $620
It’s hard not to like someone hitting behind Mike Trout for an RBI award. The only downside here is if Trout will even be on base when Rendon comes up to bat, or will he have just gotten back to the dugout after crushing his own home run.
Rendon should bat cleanup in a Los Angeles Angels lineup that will feature David Fletcher at the leadoff position. Fletcher had a .371 OBP when batting first in the order in 2020. Jared Walsh slotted into the 2-hole in 74 plate appearances last season and had a .351 OBP. Trout has a career .418 OBP (which is insane).
This season, “Tony Two-Bags” has a legitimate shot at leading the league in RBI; he led the National League in RBI in 2019 for the eventual champion Washington Nationals.
Nelson Cruz (+4000)
prop bet
+4000
Nelson Cruz To Lead MLB In RBI For 2021
Bet $20, Payout $820
Nelson Cruz led the American League in RBI in 2017 but fell short of the overall major league lead. His 119 RBI were 13 fewer than MLB leader Giancarlo Stanton’s 132. A positive sign, though, is that Cruz has hit over 100 RBI 4 times, including a season with 108 as recently as 2019.
The 15-year vet should have a solid lineup around him like last season. As a leadoff hitter in 2020, Max Kepler reached base 34 percent of the time. Josh Donaldson reached base 37 percent of the time hitting second in the order. Those are solid on-base numbers for players hitting ahead of Cruz. He’s had elite hard contact over his career, and he has a great eye.
Another 100-plus-RBI season is not out of the question for Cruz, and neither is the title of MLB RBI Champ.
⚾ After you read 2021 MLB RBI Leader Futures Bets: Picks and Sleepers, use these 2021 RBI Leader Futures and 2021 RBI Sleepers to make 2021 MLB Futures Bets at PointsBet (with our Welcome Offer of 2 Risk-Free Bets up to $2000) on RBI Leader Odds listed at another of our preferred sportsbooks. ⚾
