Schwarber slugging odds in Home Run Derby could finish Pete Alonso’s chances for a threepeat
Home run derby odds and ends, because after all, what else is there to bet on?
Two-time defending champion Pete Alonso (+185) is atop the oddsboard to make it three Home Run Derby titles in a row. But Phillies’ slugger Kyle Schwarber, competing for the first time since 2018, is the second choice at +290 at Borgata in Atlantic City.
If they bet on how many hot dogs Joey Chestnut will eat, you bet your rosin bag that the sportsbooks will see action for Monday’s Derby.
“We will get a decent amount simply because it’s the only thing to bet on,” said Borgata sportsbook head Tom Gable.
This will be the eighth time a Phillies player has competed and Schwarber’s odds are the second-lowest entering a tournament behind Ryan Howard, who was 5-2 in 2009 Howard finished third behind Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder and Nelson Cruz. Odds for the 2007 contest were unavailable likely because participant Miguel Cabrera was injured on the final day before the All-Star break.
Only one favorite has won the Home Run Derby since it went to a tournament style format in 2015. Bryce Harper, then with Washington, was +225 when he won in his home ballpark. He beat Schwarber, who was +330, in overtime of the final round.
Gable can only hope for similar intrigue. Drama helps the bottom line.
“Having Alonso and Schwarber as the two favorites should drive some interest,” the bookie said. “The Mets and Phillies are popular teams to bet in A.C. And Alonso is the defending champ and Schwarber is pretty much built for this type of contest.”
The odds
At Borgata as of late Sunday afternoon:
Pete Alonso +185
Kyle Schwarber +290
Juan Soto +575
Ronald Acuna +675
Corey Seager +875
Julio Rodriguez +950
Jose Ramirez +1400
Albert Pujols +1900
Notable: Gable said they’ve written the most tickets on Pujols, a sentimental favorite who is retiring after this season. … Schwarber is +300 at Caesars and +330 at DraftKings.
Homers since July 1
Corey Seager – 7 in 62 at-bats (11.3%)
Kyle Schwarber – 6 in 60 at-bats (10.0%)
Juan Soto – 6 in 60 at-bats (10.0%)
Albert Pujols – 2 in 33 at-bats (6.1%)
Julio Rodriguez – 3 in 56 at-bats (5.4%)
Jose Ramirez – 3 in 60 at-bats (5.0%)
Pete Alonso -- 2 in 69 at-bats (2.9%)
Ronald Acuna – 1 in 63 at-bats (1.6%)
Career homers at Dodger Stadium
Pete Alonso – 7 in 50 at-bats (14.0%)
Juan Soto – 2 in 18 at-bats (11.1%)
Ronald Acuna – 1 in 11 at-bats (9.1%)
Kyle Schwarber – 3 in 50 at-bats (6.0%)
Albert Pujols – 17 in 289 at-bats (5.9%)
Corey Seager – 59 in 1150 at-bats (5.1%)
Jose Ramirez – 0 in 4 at-bats (0.0%)
Julio Rodriguez – Has not played
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Phillies participants
2004: Jim Thome (4-1), finished sixth. 2005: Bobby Abreu (5-1) beat Ivan Rodriguez (8-1) in the final round.
2006: Ryan Howard (4-1) beat David Wright (6-1) in the finals.
2007: Howard (odds not available) finished 7th.
2008: Chase Utley (9-2) finished 7th. Justin Morneau (also 9-2) won.
2009: Howard (5-2) lost in the second round.
2018: Rhys Hoskins (5-1) lost to Schwarber (3-1) in the second round.
Funky props
DraftKings: Schwarber is +135 to reach the final. Alonso to beat Schwarber in the finals is +600. Schwarber to beat Alonso is +700.
DraftKings: Over/under for Schwarber’s longest home run is 477.5 feet. Other over/under lengths, Ramirez (451.5), Pujols (459.5), Rodriguez (465.5), Seager (467.5), Alonso (468.5), Soto (470.5), Acuna (481.5).
DraftKings: Over/under for longest home run regardless of batter is 491.5. (At Caesars it’s 494.5.)
FanDuel: Schwarber is -300 over Pujols (+240) in the first-round.
FanDuel: Alonso +185, Field -250.
Caesars: Winner plays for NL team (-400). Winner plays for AL team (+300).
Caesars: Schwarber to hit the longest homer is +450. Soto (+350) is favored, followed by Acuna (+360), Alonso (+450), Rodriguez (+600), Pujols (+800), Ramirez (+900) and Seager (+1000).