MLB 2019 April Props: Odds Are Against a No-Hitter
- Books released seven enticing new baseball props for the month of April
- Will anyone be able to pull off an unassisted triple play?
- Will Jose Altuve or Christian Yelich rack up six hits in a single game?
Whoever said “April is the cruelest month” clearly wasn’t a baseball fan. For those of us who love America’s national pastime, April is a time rife with possibilities when a unknown pitcher can retire 27 batters in a row, or a long-past-his-prime slugger can belt out four homers in a single game.
The oddsmakers must clearly agree, because they’ve released a bevy of new baseball props for the opening month of the season. We’ve included all seven of them below along with the accompanying odds and our expert analysis.
No Hitter Odds
| Will A Pitcher Throw a No-Hitter in April 2019? (Multiple Pitchers Combining to Throw a No Hitter Also Applies) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +160 |
| No | -210 |
299 no hitters have been thrown since 1876, but curiously only 36 have occurred in the month of April. That’s likely because most modern day hurlers are on tight pitch counts during the first month of the season and are typically pulled by the fifth or six inning. Just say “no” to an April no-no.
Betting Advice: No -210
Perfect Game Odds
| Will a Pitcher Throw a Perfect Game in April 2019? (Multiple Pitchers Combining to Throw a Perfect Game Also Applies) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +900 |
| No | -1850 |
There are few things in baseball more rare – and more prized – than a perfect game. Only 23 of them have been thrown since 1880, and no player has ever thrown more than one perfect game in his career.
Only 23 perfect games have been thrown since 1880, and no player has ever thrown more than one perfect game in his career.
They’re baseball’s version of unicorns, and former White Sox hurler Charlie Robertson is the only pitcher to ever throw one in April. Count on that trend continuing in 2019.
Betting Advice: No -1850
Unassisted Triple Play Odds
| Will There Be an Unassisted Triple Play in a Game in April 2019? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +1350 |
| No | -3250 |
The only thing rarer than a perfect game is an unassisted triple play, which has occurred only 15 players in baseball history. The last player to pull it off was Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Eric Bruntlett, who caught line drive, touched second base, and tagged runner in a game against the New York Mets on August 23, 2009. At this point you’re far more likely to see the Marlins in the World Series than you are to see another triple-play.
Betting Advice: No -3250
Triple Play Odds
| Will There Be a Triple Play in a Game in April 2019? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +160 |
| No | -210 |
Unlike unassisted triple plays, regular triple plays occur far more regularly. 717 of them have happened since 1876, including two last season. The first occurred on April 19th in a game between the Mariners and Astros, and the second happened on August 16th in a game between the Rangers and Angels.
WATCH: A brain cramp by Evan Gattis leads to a triple play by the Mariners. #TrueToTheBlue @FrankDangelo23 pic.twitter.com/9koRH97xZA
— NextSportStar.com (@NextSportStar) April 20, 2018
Have a little fun with this one and sprinkle a few dollars on “yes”.
Betting Advice: Yes +160
Hitting for the Cycle Odds
| Will a Player Hit for the Cycle in April 2019? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +140 |
| No | -180 |
Getting one hit is hard enough, but imagine getting a single, double, triple and home run all in the same game. It’s a herculean feat, and yet it happens surprisingly often. Players have hit for the cycle 324 times since 1876 and have been doing it with increased regularity over the past two years. Seven players hit for the cycle in 2017 and four players did it in 2018.
ICYMI: Last night, @ChristianYelich went 6-6, played some stellar defense, oh and he hit for the cycle, too. ? pic.twitter.com/3IhSZVqHZh
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 30, 2018
Christian Yelich even did it twice last season, on August 29th and September 17th. Curiously, both times were against the Reds.
Betting Advice: Yes +140
6+ Hits in a Game Odds
| Will a Player Have 6+ Hits in a Game in April 2019? (Extra Innings Not Allowed) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +550 |
| No | -1050 |
Getting six hits in a game is a little more common than you may think. It’s been done 101 times in a nine-inning game since 1876, and was accomplished once last season by Astros center fielder George Springer, who went 6-for-6 against the Oakland A’s. However, although it happens nearly once a year, it’s only happened seven time in April, a month when pitchers tend to have a leg up on hitters.
Betting Advice: No -1050
Home Run Odds
| Will a Player Have 4+ Home Runs in a Game in April 2019? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +1500 |
| No | -4500 |
Only 18 players in Major League history have ever hit four homers in a single game, and 11 of them were born before 1957. The only active members of the club are Scooter Gennett and JD Martinez, who both accomplished the feat in 2017.
1 year ago today JD Martinez became the 1st player in MLB history to hit 4 Home Runs at Dodger stadium.
It. Was. Mesmerizing. ? pic.twitter.com/YiWnN0EwqZ— Dbacks Snake News (@SnakeNewss) September 4, 2018
It’s also worth noting that Willie Mays and Mike Schmidt were the only two players to hit four dingers in a game in the month of April. The rest of the crew had their big days later in the summer when the air was warmer and the ball was more likely to travel further.
Betting Advice: No -4500
Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.
