It’s no secret that this Shohei Ohtani guy can crush a baseball.
The reigning National League MVP is off to a great start as he looks to defend his award. His Dodgers are also 5-0 as they look to defend their World Series crown. To the surprise of nobody, Ohtani continues to be on top of the world.
On the other end are the Atlanta Braves. The 0-4 ballclub was hit hard with news on Monday, losing recently signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to suspension and starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez to the 15-day IL. This thrusts long reliever Grant Holmes to the mound tonight against a buzzsaw Dodger lineup, led off by the 3X MVP.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Los Angeles is the home favorite at -218, and the run total is set at 8. Below, I’ve highlighted my favorite prop bet for this contest.
Best Shohei Ohtani Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-155)
Since Ohtani only has a year of experience as a National Leaguer, he’s never faced Holmes in the regular season. Normally, I’d give the advantage to the pitcher there, as inexperience favors the guy toeing the slab. But Shohei Ohtani is not a normal hitter.
This is as much a bet on the Dodgers succeeding as it is on Ohtani himself. Their lineup has been off to a strong start this year while Shohei rocks a crisp .478 on-base percentage. He’s already managed to score eight runs in five games and could easily cash this bet on the strength of crossing home plate alone. Batting in front of a scorching hot Mookie Betts boosts the odds of scoring as well.
I also would expect the bottom of the Dodgers’ order to rebound somewhat soon. Their 7-8-9 hitters (Max Muncy, Kiké Hernandez, and Andy Pages) are a combined 5-for-41 to start the year. Someone’s going to get on base in front of Ohtani soon, and if you can’t pitch around him, odds are good that he will put the ball in play hard.
I’d also throw a little something on over 0.5 stolen bases at +320. The Padres ran wild on the Braves in their four-game sweep, and the 50-50 man is hard enough to contain as is. He should be in for a big night.
