2015 Home Run Derby Odds
Todd Frazier is the betting favorite to win the 2015 Home Run Derby. Photo: Getty With just one former winner in this year’s field, the 2015 Home Run Derby is likely to have a first-time champion. The 2015 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby starts off All-Star week Monday night at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds. The event begins at 8 p.m. The 2015 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby (known through sponsorship as the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders) was a home run hitting contest between eight batters from Major League Baseball (MLB). The derby was held on July 13, 2015, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, the site of the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.
- 2015 Home Run Derby Contestants
- 2015 Home Run Derby Odds
- 2015 Home Run Derby Odds For Today
- 2015 Home Run Derby Odds Horse Racing
When it comes to betting on baseball this week, the MLB's annual All-Star Game scheduled for this Tuesday night in Cincinnati is the only game in town until the second half of the regular season gets underway this upcoming Friday.
A new era of slugging began with a hometown champion, as the Reds' Todd Frazier won the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders on Monday night at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. Frazier captured the title in dramatic fashion in front of an adoring crowd by besting Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson, 15-14, in the final round.The Cincinnati third baseman, who hit after Pederson.
One of the most popular events surrounding the MLB All-Star Break is Monday's Home Run Derby. The entire format of this year's contest has been changed to feature four head-to-head matchups in the opening round. The following are my MLB player prop picks for all four matchups based on odds from BetOnline.
Albert Pujols (-105) vs. Kris Bryant (-125)
Both Pujols and Bryant come into this opening round matchup as +450 second-favorites to win this year's Home Run Derby, so this should be a good hard-fought battle between two of the best long-ball hitters in the Majors. Pujols last appeared in the Home Run Derby in 2009, and this will be Bryant's first appearance.
Pujols has already belted 26 home runs this season, which is tops in the American League. Bryant comes in as the eighth overall seed with 12 home runs. Seeing how this year's contest is a timed 5-minute round to hit as many homers as possible, I am going with the favorable odds and overall edge in power with a play on Pujols in this matchup.
Joc Pederson (-145) vs. Manny Machado (+115)
Pederson comes into this competition with 20 home runs on the year, and he has been set as a +550 fifth-favorite to win this year's Home Run Derby. Machado has belted one less home run (19) than his opponent in this round, and he has the longest odds to win of the eight contestants at +800.
This will be the first appearance for either player in this competition. Both of these guys would be considered to be among the top power hitters in the majors, but I am going to go chalk in this one with a play on Pederson as a pretty hefty favorite.
Josh Donaldson (-125) vs. Anthony Rizzo (-105)
This third matchup features two players with identical +700 odds to win the entire competition. Donaldson has the clear edge in home runs during the regular season so far with 21 verses 16 for Rizzo, and he has been more productive at driving in runs with 61 RBI against Rizzo's 48. I would also have to give the overall edge to Donaldson in light of his 104 total hits on the year.
This will be Rizzo's first Home Run Derby while Donaldson did compete in last year's contest. He did not make it out of the first round after hitting just three home runs, but the experience has to count for something. I am once again going with the favorite in this head-to-head matchup with Donaldson as my pick to advance.
Todd Frazier (-130) vs. Prince Fielder (+100)
This could be the top matchup in the opening round of this year's Home Run Derby. Frazier comes into this competition as a +400 favorite to win the Derby in front of his home-town crowd as a member of the Reds, while Fielder is listed as one of three +450 second-favorites to take home the crown. Frazier is tied for the third-most home runs in the majors this season with 25, while Fielder is much farther down the list with 14.
This matchup comes down to home-field advantage against veteran experience. This will be Frazier's first Home Run Derby, so his nerves could run a bit high. Fielder has been a regular fixture in this competition, and while he did miss last season's Home Run Derby he won this event in 2012 by belting 28 home runs over the course of three rounds. I am going with the veteran experience in this matchup with a play on Fielder's more favorable betting odds.
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The 2015 MLB season takes a break after Friday’s MLB action, and all eyes will soon by on the MLB All-Star game. I’m sorry, let’s get more specific: all eyes will be on this year’s Home Run Derby.
Sure, the MLB All-Star game can be fun and ultimately dictates home field advantage for the 2015 World Series, but this was also a game that was once ended in a tie. On purpose.
The Home Run Derby is where most of the fun is at, and with changes that time the players and make it a little more exciting, it could be the best version of the derby baseball fans have ever seen.
It certainly could be the most stat-studded event when it comes to sheer power, as eight mashes go head to head to try to steal the crown.
Yoenis Cespedes won it in back-to-back tries in 2013 and 2014, but will not be back for a three-peat. Instead, Prince Fielder returns as the only past winner for this year’s event, which he took the crown for in 2009 and 2012. He could be an interesting bet with the third best Home Run Derby odds (11/2)
The Favorites
Todd Frazier leads the way with the best odds (7/2) and is followed close behind by Chicago Cubs rookie sensation, Kris Bryant (5/1). Both have been crushing it with stellar seasons, respectively, but Frazier has been far more impressive with a whopping 25 homers. Frazier is also the favorite after getting all the way to the final in 2014 and narrowly losing to Cespedes.
Bryant is no slouch (12 homers), but he arguably pales in comparison and his lack of experience has him behind Frazier. Oddsmakers could be showing a “prisoner of the moment” effect here, too, as Bryant may not be quite the threat his odds suggest.
The aforementioned Fielder rounds out the favorites in the top three, naturally, as he’s had loads of experience, has won the event twice and is also having a terrific 2015 season (13 homers, .345 batting average).
The Sleepers
The favorites could certainly be in the mix, but in a field of eight strong hitters, there is bound to be a fun sleeper to target. There are several sleepers here, as Albert Pujols returns to the contest for the fourth time and it’d be fun if he finally got a win. He is absolutely crushing this year and leads the AL with 25 homers, so he’s a nice dark horse and comes in with the fourth best odds (6/1).
2015 Home Run Derby Contestants
Anthony Rizzo is next up with 13/2 odds and he’s somehow down the list and behind teammate Kris Bryant despite smacking four more homers on the year. Chicago is the only team sporting two players in the event, so out of eight players you actually have better odds in theory if you pick one of these guys. Bryant has the popular vote and appeal, but Rizzo might actually be the better bet.
The bottom of this year’s Home Run Derby includes three guys with the same (7/1) odds. Manny Machado, Joc Pederson and Josh Donaldson round out the top sleepers to claim first place in the event.
Machado is a decent threat (19 homers on the year) and Pederson is right there with Bryant for Rookie of the Year honors (20 homers), but the top sleeper has to be Donaldson (21 homers). Donaldson is within striking distance for the AL MVP award and wouldn’t mind adding Home Run Derby champ to his 2015 wall of awards. He has an effortless swing and serious power, and he’s my favorite sleeper to take the crown.
The Pick: Albert Pujols
2015 Home Run Derby Odds
I really like two guys for this year’s event: Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. These guys have been here before, Fielder has won twice and Pujols came awfully close 12 years ago. I think Pujols finally gets a win at the coveted event, and it makes a ton of sense considering the killer year he’s having at the plate.
2015 Home Run Derby Odds For Today
Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson are sneaky, sexy picks, but I like the veterans to show the young pups how it’s done. That should have Fielder and Pujols making it far, with Pujols holding any finalists off for the win. His odds are good enough (6/1) to think it can happen, and they’re bad enough where you can make some coin back on your investment.