BetMGM Sportsbook has launched a $50,000 Bullpen Jackpot for the MLB playoffs, and Phillies fans have good reason to get involved.
If a player hits a home run into a bullpen, the pool of bettors who chose that player to hit a dinger in that game will split $50,000.
The special jackpot will run throughout the MLB postseason, from the wild card series through the conclusion of the 2024 World Series.
Pennsylvania sports bettors will have to determine which stadiums and which home run hitters give them the best chance to win a portion of the $50,000 jackpot. (Here’s a quick hint. Citizens Bank Park has a large bullpen)
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Favorites to hit bullpen home runs
BetMGM sportsbook oddsmakers list the Los Angeles Dodgers as favorites to win the World Series at +325. The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies are next at +450. Those futures bets are based on a $100 wager.
How do you decide which batters may hit a home run into a bullpen? There are a few factors to consider.
- Which batters hit a lot of home runs?
- Where are most home runs hit in specific ballparks?
- Which players are most likely to hit a home run into a bullpen?
Many of the most prolific home run sluggers will be playing in the postseason, including home run champs Aaron Judge (58 HRs) of the Yankees and Shohei Ohtani (54 HRs) of the Dodgers. Other big-time sluggers include:
- Anthony Santander (Orioles; bats switch)
- Juan Soto (Yankees; bats left)
- Marcell Ozuna (Braves; bats right)
- José Ramírez (Guardians; bats switch)
- Kyle Schwarber (Phillies; bats left)
- Gunnar Handerson (Orioles; bats left)
- Yordan Alvarez (Astros; bats left)
- Pete Alonso (Mets; bats right)
According to MLB Statcast, most home runs are hit to the pull field, and into the deep corners or what is known as the “power alley” between right or left field and center field.
Where’s the bullpen?
Most stadiums hosting playoff baseball this fall have a bullpen in the outfield area near where home runs are frequently hit.
- Minute Maid Park, Houston: Bullpen in right field
- Yankee Stadium, New York: Home bullpen is in right field; visitors’ bullpen is closer to centerfield
- Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore: Left-centerfield (stacked bullpens, large area)
- Progressive Field, Cleveland: Right-centerfield
- Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City: Home bullpen in right field; visitors’ in left field
- Comerica Park, Detroit: Right field and right-centerfield (deep fences, large bullpen area)
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: Home bullpen in left field, visitors’ in right (small bullpens)
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia: Left field (largest bullpen areas)
- Petco Park, San Diego: Right field and centerfield (deepest of postseason bullpens)
- American Family Field, Milwaukee: Right field near foul pole
- Citi Field, New York: Right field, along the line
- Truist Park, Atlanta: Left field
Note that the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, and the New York Mets will only host games if they advance to the second round.
The largest and the smallest
In the absence of footage data, three bullpens look to be the largest in all the postseason stadiums.
- Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia
- Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore
- Comerica Park in Detroit
The smallest or most difficult bullpens to hit home runs into are:
- Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
- Citi Field in New York
- Petco Park in San Diego
Just-made-it dingers
A factor worth considering is whether a batter regularly hits long home runs.
All of the bullpens are next to the home run fence, so if a batter has a tendency to hit balls deep into the outfield stands, he may not be a good bet for the BetMGM $50,000 Bullpen Jackpot.
MLB Statcast lists the most “Doubter” home runs. Those were home runs that just cleared the fence. Here are four in the top 10 we’ll see in the playoffs along with the number of their home runs that barely cleared the fence.
- Marcell Ozuna, Braves: 16 of 39
- Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers: 14 of 54
- Willy Adames, Brewers: 14 of 32
- Gleyber Torres, Yankees: 14 of 15
It’s easy to enter
To enter the $50,000 Bullpen Jackpot, first create an account with BetMGM or use your existing account. Once you have an account, simply place a player prop bet on the MLB playoffs for a batter to hit a home run in a specific game.
If that player hits a home run into a bullpen area, you win a share of the $50,000 prize pool with everyone who bet that the hitter would hit a home run in the game.
Of course, you will also win your player prop bet.
