Atlanta Braves’ star outfielder, Ronald Acuña Jr., is potentially on his way to a historic 40/40 season, a feat that has the world of Major League Baseball buzzing with anticipation. With the 2023 season at its midpoint and Acuña Jr. already boasting 21 home runs, will he be able to reach this remarkable milestone?
Will Ronald Acuna Jr. Join The 40/40 Club?
He already has 41 stolen bases at the All-Star break, so this question asks whether Acuna hit at least 19 homers in the second half of the season.
Acuna smacked 41 homers once in his career, which came in 2019. That was one of the few seasons that wasn’t derailed by injuries, as Acuna played in 156 games and recorded 715 plate appearances.
The threat of injury looms large over Acuña Jr.’s pursuit, as his 2021 season was prematurely ended due to a torn ACL. Minor injuries have also been a concern this year with a shoulder contusion and a knee injury sidelining him at times. Most recently, an unspecified injury saw him exit a game against the Marlins early.
Ronald gettin' it started with a 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆 💥 pic.twitter.com/0vP7FtQykI
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) June 27, 2023
Despite these setbacks, Acuña Jr.’s contributions to the Braves and the National League have been significant. His performance this season has already set records: he is the only player with at least 20 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and 50 RBI before the All-Star break.
The Braves, currently leading the National League with an impressive record of 57-28, rely heavily on Acuña Jr.’s continued brilliance. As such, his pursuit of a 40/40 season extends beyond personal accomplishment and becomes a team goal.
What Do The Odds Say?
DraftKings Sportsbook has started taking bets on the outcome, offering odds of +115 for ‘yes’ and -140 for ‘no’.
What’s The Best Bet?
Let’s take a look at the math here:
- Acuna has played in all 89 games for Atlanta this season. He has hit 21 homers. That’s a homer every 4.238 games.
- There are 73 games remaining for the Braves. If he continues that pace, he’ll end up with 17 homers in the second half.
- That’s a total of 38 homers, falling short of the 40/40 mark.
Remember, that’s if Acuna stays healthy and plays in every game until the end of the season. There’s a chance he’ll pick up an injury of some kind or see a few off days as the season winds down.
For those reasons, it’s advisable to take Acuna to NOT reach the 40/40 club for -140 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. It’s not the most fun you’ll have making a bet, but this is the logical choice when it comes to this prop.
How To Wager On This Prop
You can find this prop at DraftKings Sportsbook by clicking on MLB, then sliding over to “Player Specials” and then “40-40 Club”.
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