MLB Home Run Leader Odds for 2026
Who does not love a dinger? A home run is one of the best feelings, and not only for the batters. Since you will find MLB home run leader odds at sportsbooks, bettors can also enjoy the thrills.
We have compiled this guide to share an overview of how to wager on which players will score the most home runs in the MLB. Our guide unpacks how dingers are tracked, the different types of home run leader wagers you can make and a few tips to maximize your MLB betting at the top US sportsbooks. Let’s get cracking!
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Home run leader 101: An introductory course about dingers
Welcome to our home run leader 101 course, where you will understand the ins and outs of dingers. If you did not know, a dinger is another word for a home run (HR), and is arguably one of the best parts of any Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Below, we have unpacked what constitutes a dinger and some of the players who have scored the most home runs throughout the years in the American League (AL) and National League (NL).
What constitutes a dinger in the MLB?
In a nutshell, a home run is awarded when a batter hits a fair ball and touches all four bases in succession during a game. There are two types of home runs: over the outfield wall and inside-the-park.
Over the outfield wall, home runs require the batter to hit the ball over the outfield wall or into the stands, but within the fair territory. While not as common as one would think, an inside-the-park home run is when a batter hits the ball into play inside the field and successfully covers all four bases in succession.
One important thing to note about dingers is that a batter can only be awarded one HR, irrespective of how many players were already on base. This means that even if a Grand Slam is scored (where there are three batters on base, and someone hits a home run, which results in four runs being scored), the batter who hit the HR will only be awarded one dinger, while also achieving 4 RBI’s (Runs Batted In).
No recognized award but plenty of winners throughout the years
Since the home runs are a statistic that can easily be tracked, there is no need for any voting for the winner. While there may not be any official awards for home run leaders, as you would get for the MLB Rookie of the Year or the MLB Cy Young Award, there is still plenty of interest in the accolade.
Barry Bonds holds the record for most HR’s in a single season, when he smashed 73 home runs in 2001. We have shared some of the standout performances through the years in the table below, so have a browse at who hit the most dingers between 2015 and 2025 in the American League and National League.
| Year | Most HR’s in American League | Most HR’s in National League |
| 2025 | Cal Raleigh (Mariners) - 60 HR | Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) - 56 HR |
| 2024 | Aaron Judge (Yankees) - 58 HR | Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) - 54 HR |
| 2023 | Shohei Ohtani (Angels) - 44 HR | Matt Olson (Braves) - 54 HR |
| 2022 | Aaron Judge (Yankees) - 62 HR | Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) - 46 HR |
| 2021 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr (Blue Jays) - 48 HR Salvador Perez (Royals) - 48 HR | Fernando Tatis Jr (Padres) - 42 HR |
| 2020 | Luke Voit (Yankees) - 22 HR | Marcell Ozuna (Braves) - 18 HR |
| 2019 | Jorge Soler (Royals) - 48 HR | Pete Alonso (Mets) - 53 HR |
| 2018 | Khris Davis (Athletics) - 48 HR | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) - 38 HR |
| 2017 | Aaron Judge (Yankees) - 52 HR | Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins) - 59 HR |
| 2016 | Mark Trumbo (Orioles) - 47 HR | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) - 41 HR Chris Carter (Brewers) - 41 HR |
| 2015 | Chris Davis (Orioles) - 47 HR | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) - 42 HR Bryce Harper (Nationals) - 42 HR |
Can you wager on MLB home run leaders?
If you reside in a US state where online sports betting is permitted, then yes, you can wager on MLB home run leaders. Just like how you would find MLB Cy Young odds, there are also MLB HR leader odds available at reputable US sportsbooks. You can browse the banners on this page to find the best betting sites that offer home run odds and markets for Major League Baseball.
Understanding how MLB betting odds are interpreted
There is no difference between MLB Rookie of the Year odds and MLB home run leader odds. The fundamentals remain the same, and these odds determine the possible payout a bettor would receive for a winning bet, and show how the possibility of winning. Generally, there are three common odds displays: American, decimal and fractional. You can adjust the display to whichever one you prefer, but in the US, the most common odds display is American.
Understanding how MLB betting odds are interpreted is simple, and with the American odds display, a (-) sign is added before the odds for a favorite below even money, while a (+) sign is added before the odds for an underdog above even money.
For example, let’s say that New York Yankees big man Aaron Judge is -110 to win the HR leader in the American League. This means that you must wager $110 to win $100 in profit and a total return of $210. On the other side, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is priced at +500 to become the National League HR leader. Then this means a $100 bet will give you $500 in profit and a total return of $600, should Ohtani score the most dingers in the NL.
Types of HR bets to expect
Similar to how there are diverse MLB futures betting options, you will also find several different types of home run leader bets at betting sites. These bets cover both pre-match action, where you place your wagers before the game can commence, and in-play wagers, where you are betting on the action as it unfolds inside the park. The table below details some of the most common types of HR leader wagers to expect when using US sportsbooks:
| Bet type | Explanation |
| Game leaders | Place wagers on which team will score the most dingers in a game. |
| Home run hit or not | Bet on whether a specific player will score a home run or not during a game. |
| Team leaders | A wager on which player will score the most dingers for their team in a specific game. |
| League leaders | Predict which batter will score the most home runs throughout the season in the American League and National League. |
| Overall leaders | Bet on which player will score the most dingers overall in the MLB for the season. |
| Parlays | Combine multiple wagers into a single betslip. For example, take three different players from three different games to score 1+ HR each. |
| Special combos | Unique bets where sportsbooks offer specials on combinations of players to score dingers in a game. For example, any two of Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger to score a HR for the Yankees against the Mets. |
Features to evaluate when finding the best MLB sportsbooks
So far, we have explained how home runs work, that real money betting is available in select US states and the different types of home run leader markets to expect. Now, let’s unpack how to find trusted US sportsbooks for your dinger wagers. The next time you are evaluating possible betting sites, critique brands on the following features:
- Availability - Make sure you are only betting with real money if online sports betting is permitted in your state. You should also ensure that the sportsbooks you use are legitimate brands that are licensed to operate in the state. You can read the terms and conditions page to find information about the betting site’s license.
- Security - The top brands will always prioritize bettor safety. There will be advanced security measures in place to protect all bettors, including password-secured accounts, KYC checks, an encrypted banking platform and access to responsible gambling tools, such as deposit limits and self-exclusion options.
- Bonuses - Keep an eye on the promotions page for MLB bonuses, such as sign up offers, match bonuses, free bets, and boosted odds promos. Also, double-check the bonus terms to ensure fair T&Cs, such as low wagering requirements and long validity periods.
- Markets - It can get boring if you are only wagering on a few markets, like MLB MVP odds or HR leader options. The top gambling websites will also offer diverse MLB markets, including moneylines, player props, and futures such as MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Cy Young winners. All of these markets should also offer competitive odds similar to those of other sportsbooks.
- Mobile - Betting on the go is a popular choice for many right now, so critique potential brands on the mobile platforms. Ideally, there should be both dedicated betting apps and a mobile-optimized website. Both should be compatible with most devices, including Android and iOS and should mirror the desktop version.
- Support - Spend time actually testing the customer support at sportsbooks. Chat with the live agent and the agents via email, and verify if the feedback is correct and whether the agents are friendly and knowledgeable.
2026 MLB home run leader odds - Which batters should be on your radar?
The latest MLB HR winner odds for today have several players in contention to score the most dingers in both the American League and National League. There is a mix of veterans and some rookies that have caused quite the stir so far in 2026. We have shared a few of the top batters that should be on your radar when deciding which players will take home the crown in 2026.
American League
The race to be the American League HR leader has seen rookie Munetaka Murakami stand out in the early season, while Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Ben Rice follow not too far behind in the betting as well.
- Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox) - Rookie Munetaka Murakami has been sending shockwaves through the AL, and besides being in contention for the AL Rookie of the Year, he also leads the AL in most dingers for 2026 with 17+. Murakami represents value in the betting, priced at +900.
- Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) - Multiple AL leading home run scorer Aaron Judge has started the season in top form, already achieving 16+ dingers. Judge is always at the top of the betting boards, and is currently priced at +250 to score the most dingers in the MLB.
- Ben Rice (New York Yankees) - Judge’s teammate Ben Rice is another Yankees batter who has stepped up this year and is on the tail of Murakami and Judge with 16+ home runs in 2026. Rice is the lurker in the pack right now with odds of +1800.
National League
The National League HR winner race looks to be a one-horse race right now, with the Phillies Kyle Schwarber dominating the league. Matt Olson and Shohei Ohtani are also previous home run season winners in the NL, and warrant plenty of respect for the 2026 accolade.
- Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) - Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber has been scoring dingers for fun in the early months of the campaign, already boasting 20+ for the season. Schwarber is the current favorite to be the top HR leader in the MLB with odds of -125.
- Matt Olson (Atlanta Braves) - Atlanta Braves batter Matt Olson has 14+ HR so far in 2026 and has looked in good nick for the Braves. The veteran is priced at +2500, making him a lurker in the pack.
- Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) - A fan favorite among MLB viewers and bettors, is Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. While he has started the year slowly with just 8+ home runs, he has proven that he can go on a streak quickly. Ohtani is one of the big outsiders for the MLB HR leader for 2026, with +15000 odds.
Tips when placing your bets on who will hit the most dingers
Before you can get stuck in and wager on who will hit the most dingers in the season, how about a few tips to put you on the right path? Check out the following pointers to make the most out of your time when placing MLB home run leader bets:
- Always do your research when betting, rather than only wagering on your favorite players. When researching, check player form, injury records and their roles in the team.
- Similar to other player prop MLB futures, wagering on MLB HR winner odds is affected by player injuries. If a batter gets injured and misses large chunks of the season, then he will likely no longer be in contention to score the most dingers for the year. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep your stakes low on these bets and set aside only a few units of your bankroll.
- In-play bets are a good choice for game home run wagers, as you can see how the action is unfolding and how batters are adapting to certain pitchers before placing your bets. However, you must be quick with your in-running bets as the odds can shift quickly.
Pros and cons: MLB home run leader odds
- Diverse betting markets
- Competitve odds
- Pre-match and in-play wagers
- Player performances are inconsistent
Final thoughts - Step up to the plate and place your dinger wagers with trusted US sportsbooks
That is it for our guide, and as you can tell, wagering on home run leaders are fun bets that keep you interested throughout the regular season and playoffs for Major League Baseball. Compared to other types of markets, home run odds cover an array of options, including game, league and team leaders. We have walked you through the ins and outs of these bets plus some tips to maximize your experience, so ensure you follow our suggestions.
If you are ready to step up to the plate and place your dinger wagers, then go ahead and browse the banners on this page to find trusted US sportsbooks. Thereafter, sign up using the relevant banners to claim an exclusive sign up reward and start your MLB betting.
MLB home run leader odds FAQs
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