MLB Hits Leader 2021 Predictions and Betting Odds

Player to Record Most Hits Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook, updated on March 31, 2021.

Odds from DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or check out more offers and promo codes for the best online sportsbooks.

American League

DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees

DJ LeMahieu is what you call a pro’s pro. And now, he has the contract to match it. LeMahieu inked a five-year extension in the offseason and now is the odds-on-betting favorite to lead the majors in hits.

He’s a great bet. After all, he’s won a batting title in both leagues and he’s still at the top of his game. Last year he was just five hits behind the leader and in 2019 he was just nine hits back.

LeMahieu has never had 200 hits in a season before and the AL leader in hits has had 200 or more in 23 of the last 25 seasons, but this could just be the year he breaks through.

Whit Merrifield, Kansas City Royals

Whit Merrifield should probably be the odds-on favorite to win this award. In each of the last two full seasons that have been played, Merrifield led the league in hits.

The stand-out second baseman has missed just four total games over the last three years and is one of the best contact hitters in either league.

AL Long Shot: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Jose Altuve hasn’t had that same energy since the Astros’ 2017 World Series cheating scandal came out, but he’s still one of the best hitters in the game.

Altuve had by far the worst year of his career last season — he hit .219 with just five home runs and 18 RBI in 48 games.

But he didn’t forget how to hit. He led the American League in total hits for four years in a row from 2014-17, which are also the last years he stayed healthy the entire season. If he’s able to play more than 145 games, Altuve will be in the top five in hits this season and at these odds, very well could return a nice payday.

National League

Trea Turner, Washington Nationals

One of the most underrated players in baseball, Trea Turner was white-hot all of the shortened 2020 season.

Turner batted a career-best .335, with a .394 OBP, and belted 12 home runs with 41 RBI over 60 games. He also led all of baseball with 78 hits. Turner is a great combination of a disciplined eye with a bat that can hit for average and power.

However with all of that said, there’s not a ton of value with this bet since he is the favorite, so bet this one with eyes wide open going into it.

Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

He is the MVP favorite in the National League and you don’t get that way without really being able to hit the ball.

Betts has done it all and he’s still not even 30. He’s won a World Series title in each league, an MVP and multiple gold gloves and silver slugger awards. Betts was just a tad off in last year’s strange season, hitting .292 with 16 home runs and 39 RBI in 55 games played.

But despite all of his accolades, Betts has never led the league in hits. The year he was closest was 2016 — when he had a career-high 214 hits, finishing two behind the eventual winner Jose Altuve.

NL Long Shot: Nicholas Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds

There might be some names you’d expect here, but Nicholas Castellanos isn’t in the majors because of his defensive abilities.

Castellanos has played his last 111 games in the National League, yet this will be the first season he plays a full season in the NL. Castellanos is another bigger name who struggled last season.

Castellanos batted .225 while belting 14 home runs and 34 RBI, however in his previous 51 games before that he hit 16 home runs, had 36 RBI, and batted .327. He can be a streaky player but if Castellanos can get off to a good start, there’s no reason he can’t make some noise.

More MLB Futures and Predictions

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• National League (NL) MVP Award 2021
• National League Cy Young Award Winners 2021
• World Series 2021 Predictions, Odds, and Picks
• American League (AL) Cy Young Award 2021
• MLB Home Run Leader 2021