MLB odds: Houston Astros 2020 home run props in wake of sign-stealing scandal

MLB fans and bettors have been responding in a big way to the various sportsbooks putting out unique Houston Astros props for the coming season in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal. DraftKings has come up with a few more unique MLB futures odds regarding home runs and the defending American League champions.

The Astros only stole signs at home because that's where they had the video feed set up and where they banged a trash can in the tunnel leading to the dugout to alert their batters to what pitch might or might not be coming. Coincidence or not, the Astros have been spectacular at home since 2017. Last regular season, for example, their 60-21 home record was by far the best in MLB – although they lost every game at Minute Maid Park in the World Series.

In the 2019 regular season, the Astros hit 150 home runs at Minute Maid and 138 on the road. The implication being that knowing the pitches led to more dingers at home. On the DraftKings MLB odds, the Astros are given a total of 130.5 homers at home this season.

The site also looks into two players who have been caught up in this scandal perhaps more than any others: second baseman Jose Altuve, the 2017 AL MVP, and third baseman Alex Bregman, the 2019 AL MVP runner-up. Bregman is given an overall total of 33.5 homers in 2020 with 17.5 at home. He hit 41 last year but only 16 of those at home. Altuve is given totals of 24.5 total homers and 12.5 at home. He hit 31 last year in 124 games (missed a chunk injured) with 18 at home.

Houston is also given an Over-Under of 49.5 wins at Minute Maid Park. That will be the only ballpark in 2020 where the players aren't likely to be booed. While the Astros blew past that win total last year, they went Under 49.5 in 2017-18.

Picks: Under 49.5 wins, Over on both Bregman options.