MLB Futures Picks – Syndication Server

Statistics in 2020 will look vastly different than they do in a typical year, all because the 2020 MLB season has been shortened to only 60 games. Below, we look at the BetMGM odds and make our MLB futures picks and best bets to lead MLB in home runs in 2020.

We won’t have anyone hitting 50 home runs or driving in 100 runs this season, but we could have someone hit .400, or close to it. In the home run department, it’ll be a mad dash to the power crown.

2020 MLB home runs leader best bets: Favorites

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, July 17 at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Texas Rangers OF Joey Gallo (+900)

Gallo is tied with Chicago White Sox rookie OF Luis Robert to lead the majors in home runs, but Robert comes with much more uncertainty than the Rangers slugger. Gallo was an All-Star in 2019 after a strong first half of the season. He finished with 22 home runs and a career-high .253 batting average in 70 games.

If he can hit 20-something home runs again in a 60-game season, he’ll be right there among the leaders. He’ll benefit from the universal designated hitter rule, too, allowing him to play more often against National League teams.

New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso (+1000)

Alonso is my pick to lead the majors in home runs, which would mark the second season in a row he’d do so. He plays in a hitter-friendly park and showed incredible durability last season by playing 161 games. He’s a budding star in baseball and it’s hard to imagine him regressing much at all in Year 2. He does need to cut down on the strikeouts, though, after going down 183 times as a rookie.

2020 MLB home runs leader best bets: Contenders

New York Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton (+1400)

How quickly we forget Stanton’s raw power after two somewhat disappointing seasons with the Yankees. He’s led the league in home runs twice (2014 and 2017) with the Miami Marlins, slugging 59 long balls three years ago. If healthy, he should be pumping homers over the short porches at Yankee Stadium often and given his streakiness, he could go on a tear and win the home run crown with one hot stretch this season.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Colorado Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado (+2500)

The Rockies wound up keeping Arenado in Colorado after trade rumors swirled this offseason, which benefits the third baseman. He’s finished in the top eight of MVP voting in each of the last five years and led the league in homers three times, playing at least 155 games in each of those seasons. His combination of durability, power and playing at Coors Field makes him a no-brainer at +2500.

Oakland Athletics 1B Matt Olson (+2500)

Olson hit 24 home runs in 59 games as a rookie in 2017 and has improved his totals in that category in each of the two seasons since. He clubbed 36 home runs in only 127 games last season, while still hitting .267. If he can continue to improve as a hitter like he has in the last couple of years, he’ll be right there at the top of the league in home runs.

2020 MLB home runs leader best bets: Long shots

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Chicago White Sox OF Eloy Jimenez (+6600)

My lone long-shot pick is Jimenez, an exciting young player who lived up to the hype as a rookie in 2019. He hit 31 home runs and batted .267 in 122 games last season, finishing fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. At +6600, he comes with incredible upside, still with a good chance to finish at the top of the majors in home runs. He’ll need to hit long balls at a much higher rate than he did last season, but he has the potential to do it.

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Our 2020 MLB award previews at SportsbookWire continue with a look at the National League Cy Young. NL pitchers won’t be required to hit in the shortened 2020 season, meaning they’ll each need to face a designated hitter every time through the opponent’s batting order. Below, we make our picks and best bets to win the 2020 NL Cy Young Award.

2020 NL Cy Young best bets: Favorite

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, July 11 at 2:35 p.m. ET.

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (+450)

Scherzer leads all National League pitchers with an average of 12.60 strikeouts per nine innings in the first half of the season since 2017. His 2.30 first-half ERA ranks third over the last three season and his 129 1/3 innings pitched are the most of all starters.

Scherzer has three career Cy Young Awards, including back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017. He hasn’t finished outside of the top five in voting since 2012 while still with the Detroit Tigers in the American League. His odds are nearly twice as high as those of reigning back-to-back winner Jacob deGrom (+280).

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Scherzer (+450) to win the NL Cy Young would return a profit of $45. The same bet on deGrom fetches a return of just $28.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

2020 NL Cy Young best bets: Contender

Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers (+3300)

I’ve been down on Hader as a 2020 Fantasy Baseball target, but his versatility and importance out of the Brewers bullpen could have him in the running for the 2020 NL Cy Young in a season expected to shake up conventional pitcher roles.

Hader ranked ninth among all Brewers pitchers with 75 2/3 innings pitched last year. Top-two starters Zach Davies and Chase Anderson left this offseason. De facto No. 1 starter Brandon Woodruff tossed just 121 2/3 frames in his breakout 2019 campaign.

Hader went 3-5 with 37 saves last year. He enters the 2020 campaign as the Brewers’ closer, but he could also make some starts as an opener this year. The modified extra-inning rules, which will see each team start every half-inning with a runner on second base, could give Hader more win opportunities this season.