MLB: Ohtani may do more than just DH
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More good news if you are an L.A. Dodger fan this morning, but the news isn’t as good if you follow the New York Yankees.
In an article in Associated Press, Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, the most expensive signing in MLB free agent history, signed in December for ten years, $700 million, will soon start a throwing program after undergoing surgery on his right elbow last year. He was expected to just DH this season because of that.
The throwing program might allow him to play in the field this season. Ohtani is also a pitcher – he was 10-5 with the Anaheim Angels last season, with a 3.14 ERA, and 167 strikeouts. He won’t be pitching this season, though.
Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts is quoted as saying Ohtani will be used primarily as a DH in 2024.
The Dodgers open the MLB season tomorrow in Seoul in a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. Sports betting odds are out for that first game (6:05 a.m. EST): Dodgers are the betting favorite, 1.50 on the Moneyline, with the Padres at 2.65; the spread is Dodgers -1.5 (1.83), Padres +1.5 (2.00); the O/U is 9 (2.00 on the Over, 1.83 on the Under). Tyler Glasnow is up against Yu Darvish.
Dodgers World Series Betting Favorites
The Dodgers are also the betting favorite to win the World Series at BetMGM:
- Dodgers 4.60
- Braves 6.50
- Yankees 9.00
- Astros 9.50
- Rangers 12.00
Looking at MLB odds at DraftKings, the Dodgers are the most bet team to win the National League title at +2.75 (22 per cent of handle, 49 per cent of bets).
The Braves are led by fireballer Spencer Strider, generating the highest ticket and handle percentage at BetMGM (33.8 per cent and 49.8 per cent), plus he’s the biggest liability, to lead the league in strikeouts this season, according to BetMGM.
At DraftKings, Strider is getting the most betting interest to win the NL Cy Young at 5.50 (25 per cent of handle, 15 per cent of bets). After Strider, the most bet on pitchers to win the NL Cy Young are two Dodgers’ pitchers – Yoshinobu Yamamoto at 11.00 (21 per cent of handle, 13 per cent of bets) and Glasnow at 15.00 (eight per cent of handle, seven per cent of bets).
Cole Out for Months with Elbow Injury
The Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. is the reigning NL MVP and is generating the highest ticket percentage at BetMGM (25 per cent) to win it again.
The story with the Yankees is injuries. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole is going to be out for months with an elbow issue. He avoided surgery, but that injury is still a great unknown and nerves are frayed in New York right now.
Aaron Judge (abdomen) has missed a portion of spring training but MLB.com is reporting he should be in the lineup for tomorrow’s spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. DJ LeMahieu is out with a left foot injury.
Same deal with the Astros – SPs Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy, as well as SPs Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers, are out with injuries.
World Series MVP SS Corey Seager is still recovering from sports hernia surgery and will likely miss the Rangers’ Opening Day (MLB.com is reporting that he will be taking live batting practice Monday). SP Max Scherzer (back) has been cleared for baseball activities, also according to MLB.com.
What About the Blue Jays?
There’s understandably a lot of betting interest in Ontario in the Toronto Blue Jays. At BetMGM the Jays are tied with the Seattle Mariners at 21.00 to win the World Series, after the Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Astros, Rangers, Baltimore Orioles (14.00), and the Philadelphia Phillies (15.00).
The big question in Toronto revolves around what version of Vlad Guerrero Jr. will show up this season – the MVP-calibre version from 2021 (48 HRs, 111 RBIs) or the one that has regressed the past two seasons (66th in MLB last season in slugging percentage, at .444).
Bettors like Guerrero Jr. - he’s getting the highest ticket percentage of bets at BetMGM (13.0 per cent) to win AL MVP, with Ohtani generating the highest handle (22.3 per cent). Guerrero Jr is the biggest liability there.
The Jays’ starting pitching staff has had its own share of injury issues this spring – Kevin Gausman (generating the most betting action at BetMGM to win the AL Cy Young, with the highest ticket percentage at 12.3 per cent and highest handle at 12.9 per cent) is still working his way back from a shoulder issue and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today according to Sportsnet. SP Alek Manoah also has a shoulder issue, and according to Sportsnet doesn’t have a timetable for when he’ll start throwing from the mound again.
The Dodgers-Padres series aside, the MLB season starts for real March 28, with the Milwaukee Brewers in New York to take on the Mets at 1:10 p.m. EST.
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