MLB best bets: Will anyone record 200 hits?

The line is currently -115 both ways — yes and no — on whether or not any player will record 200 or more hits, and we're kind of surprised. Considering how effective the shift has been, we thought the line would be closer to -125 "yes"/+100 "no." We're well aware no player has recorded 200 or more hits in a season since 2019, but once again, that's when the shift was legal and taking away a ton of hits. That's not the case anymore. 

Freddie Freeman led the league last year with 199 hits and Trea Turner followed with 194. We can't assure you either would have gotten to 200 if the shift didn't exist last year, but we're pretty darn confident Freeman would have gotten there. After all, he was just one hit short. Just about every team played Freeman to pull on the infield, and now they can't. That's a major win for Freeman. 

Turner has never recorded 200 hits in a season, but this very well could be the year, especially with how hot he's been in the WBC. He's unequivocally been USA's best hitter, and we expect that to transfer over to the regular season. 

Same goes for guys like Bo Bichette, Whit Merrifield, Ronald Acuna Jr., Michael Brantley and Cedric Mullins. Merrifield and Brantley have done it before, and Bichette and Mullins have gotten close to it multiple times. Meanwhile Acuna Jr. is finally healthy, and if he is able to play a full season, there's no saying what he can't do. 

If this shift was still permitted, we'd tell you bet "no" on whether or not any player will record 200 or more hits, but that's not the case anymore. And from it sounds like it, the shift is going to be gone forever. And in this case, we're OK with that, and you should be too. 

The Bet: Will any player record 200 or more hits? (Yes, -115 odds)

Bet $115 to win $100.