5 Best MLB Futures Bets To Make Now For The 2021 Season: NL Cy Young, AL Home Run King, World Series Sleeper
@GameDayFactsFor the 2021 MLB preseason, The Game Day has compiled 2021 Futures Bets, Prop Bets & Award Picks. Here are 5 MLB Futures Bets for bettors to make now where I see an edge in the current odds.
All odds provided by PointsBet.
5 Best MLB Futures Bets To Make Now For The 2021 Season
2021 National League Cy Young
- Walker Buehler, Dodgers (+1000)
Player Prop
+1000
Walker Buehler To Win 2021 NL Cy Young Award
Bet $20, Payout $220
There are three Dodgers pitchers with odds of 20-to-1 or less. They are newly signed and reigning NL Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer (+700), Walker Buehler (+1000), and three-time NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw (+2000). I think there’s only one bet worth making here. That wager is on Buehler, the man that is quietly the ace of the defending World Series champions.
Just look at what Buehler has done in his two full seasons in the bigs. In 2018, he started 24 games, had an 8-5 record, a 2.62 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 151 Ks in 137.1 innings. Then in 2019, he went 14-4 despite a dip in his ERA (3.26) and WHIP (1.04).
If Buehler’s win-loss record catches up to his non-counting stats, then there’s a big advantage in taking the Dodgers’ ace at 10-to-1.
2021 National League MVP
- Mookie Betts, Dodgers (+800)
- Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (+800)
- Corey Seager, Dodgers (+1500)
prop bet
+800
Mookie Betts To Win 2021 NL MVP Award
Bet $20, Payout $180
prop bet
+800
Cody Bellinger To Win 2021 NL MVP Award
Bet $20, Payout $180
prop bet
+1500
Corey Seager To Win 2021 NL MVP Award
Bet $20, Payout $320
While we’re on the topic of the Dodgers, that team has three players that are all good bets to win the NL MVP award. Truth is, I’m writing off the abbreviated 2020 season.
Playing 60 games is very different from playing 162. The Dodgers have the 2019 NL MVP in Cody Bellinger and the 2018 AL MVP in Mookie Betts, both at +800. But it’s the 15-to-1 odds on the team’s All-Star shortstop that I see an edge. Corey Seager not only won the 2020 NLCS and World Series MVP, but also has 20-plus homers, a .295 batting average and at least 70 RBI and 85 runs scored in every season he’s reached 500 at-bats.
Look for Seager to match his career bests in 2021. If the Dodgers’ shortstop does so — 26 homers, 105 runs scored and 87 RBI along with his career .295 batting average, then these +1500 odds are well worth placing a wager on.
5 Best MLB Futures Bets To Make Now For The 2021 Season: DJ LeMahieu should be a hit machine again in 2021. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2021 MLB Most Regular Season Hits
- DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (+1200)
Player Prop
+1200
DJ LeMahieu To Record Most Regular-Season Hits In MLB
Bet $20, Payout $260
Now, moving on to the American League. DJ LeMahieu will lead the Majors in hits in 2021. I know that’s a big statement, but 12-to-1 odds are too good to pass up here.
LeMahieu won the AL batting title last season, with a .364 average and was only seven hits off the MLB lead in hits. He became the first player in the modern era to win a batting title in both leagues after doing so while with the Colorado Rockies in 2016.
Trea Turner had the most regular season hits in 2020 with 78 hits in 59 games while LeMahieu had 71 in 50. If DJ had played a few more games, he would undoubtedly had led the Majors in hits. In 2019, LeMahieu also fell just short with 197 hits to Whit Merrifield‘s MLB-best 206.
I’m taking LeMahieu to top at least 200 hits and for him to lead the Majors in hits in 2021.
Most AL Regular Season Home Runs
- Aaron Judge, Yankees (+2000)
- Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (+2000)
Player Prop
+2000
Aaron Judge To Lead AL In Home Runs
Bet $20, Payout $420
Player Prop
+2000
Giancarlo Stanton To Lead AL In Home Runs
Bet $20, Payout $420
Sorry for sticking to the Bronx Bombers, but there are two players here with 20-to-1 odds that have each led their league in homers previously. Giancarlo Stanton led the Majors with 59 in 2017 and the NL with 39 in 2014. Aaron Judge led the AL with 52 in 2017, and in his career, he has hit a home run in every 12.75 at-bats. Stanton’s at-bats per home run slightly worse (13.88), but health remains the issue with both of these Yankees outfielders.
While Luke Voit led the Majors in home runs (22) during the 60-game 2020 season, I’ll take Judge or Stanton to do so in 2021.
Make your 2021 MLB Prop Bets at one of our partner sportsbooks.
Top promotions
2021 MLB Futures Bets: World Series Winner
2021 World Series Favorites
- Los Angeles Dodgers (+350)
- New York Yankees (+550)
- San Diego Padres (+800)
- Chicago White Sox (+900)
- New York Mets (+1000)
Last, but certainly not least, is the World Series winner futures bet. Believe it or not, these are likely the best odds you’ll get on any of these teams. Above are the top five in odds and the only with 10-to-1 odds or worse, but that doesn’t mean another squad won’t be hoisting the World Series trophy in the 2021 Fall Classic.
If we look at the current odds to win each division, a few teams stand out. The Atlanta Braves are tied for the best odds to win the NL East and they’re a bit of a longer shot than the Mets.
I like the Braves at +1100 over the Mets at +1000 to win it all.
There’s also the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros tied for the best odds to win the AL West. Give me the Astros at +2200 odds as long as Justin Verlander is healthy by the time the playoffs come around.
And the St. Louis Cardinals are the most likely to win the NL Central. At 25-to-1 odds, and with their addition of Nolan Arenado, the Cards are my favorite World Series futures bet as we head into the 2021 MLB season.
prop bet
+2500
St. Louis Cardinals To Win 2021 World Series
Bet $20, Payout $520
After you read The Game Day’s “5 Best MLB Futures Bets To Make Now For The 2021 Season”:
- Dig into our complete 2021 MLB Preseason Futures Bet Guide, which is constantly updated with new 2021 MLB futures analysis, tips and picks.
- Use these 2021 MLB Futures betting tips to place a wager at one of our partner sportsbooks. PointsBet is offering a welcome promotion of 2 Risk-Free Bets for up to $2,000. Claim this offer now by signing up.
- Stare down your opponents in your fantasy baseball drafts and leagues with our 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, which will also be continuously updated this preseason.
