The first spring training games are this Friday, meaning the MLB season is quickly approaching. Despite all the controversy surrounding the Houston Astros, the majority of early bettors on William Hill’s two HBP props aren’t banking on frequent retaliation from the mound.
After the total opened at 83.5 for the number of times the Astros will get plunked during the 2020 MLB season, the under has attracted 49% of the tickets, yet 59% of the dollars wagered. As a result, the line has dropped to 81.5.
Additionally, the highest percentage of tickets (24%) and dollars wagered (28%) has come in on the Astros getting hit by 0 to 50 pitches. Those odds haven’t budged, though, from its 20/1 opening.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Astros getting hit by 151 or more pitches has taken in 15% of the tickets and 19% of the dollars wagered. After that prop debuted at 200/1, it has dropped all the way down to 75/1. One bettor will be rooting hard for pitchers to throw it inside often against Houston, thanks to a potential $30,000 payout at 151+ HBPs.
The 2008 Cleveland Indians set the modern era record for HBPs after they tallied 103 that season.
Houston’s offseason has also led to a lack of action on the team in the futures market. Among the 30 MLB teams, the Astros rank 29th in number of tickets bet to win the World Series, which is only ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In terms of total dollars wagered on the Astros to win their second title in four years, they rank 21st in that department. And that’s all despite Houston having the third-highest win total of any team at 94.5.
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