MLB Tokyo Series: Most Bet Props for Cubs vs Dodgers Game 1
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
The MLB World Tour: Tokyo Series kicks off with a marquee showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs on March 18 at 6:10 AM ET at the Tokyo Dome. This game will feature an elite pitching matchup between Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers and Shota Imanaga for the Cubs, two Japanese-born aces making their MLB regular-season debuts.
With stars like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Michael Busch in action, bettors are flocking to the prop market. Based on betting ticket volume, here are the most bet player props for Game 1.
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Most Bet Cubs vs Dodgers Tokyo Series Gm 1 Props (Tickets)
- Freddie Freeman over 0.5 hit (-210)
- No run 1st inning (-135)
- Shohei Ohtani over 0.5 home run (+225)
- Michael Busch under 0.5 bases (-110)
- Max Muncy under 0.5 bases (+100)
Freddie Freeman Over 0.5 Hits (-210)
Freddie Freeman is one of the most consistent hitters in baseball and is coming off a 2024 season where he hit .282 with 153 hits. He will look to get the Dodgers’ offense going early against Shota Imanaga. Freeman went 1-for-5 with a single in his only career matchup against Imanaga last season. Given his elite contact rate and .280 career average against lefties, it’s no surprise this prop is the most heavily bet at BetMGM for this game.
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No Run First Inning (NRFI) (-135)
With two dominant starting pitchers making their season debuts, the first inning could be quiet. Yamamoto and Imanaga both excelled in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) before arriving in the bigs and will certainly be excited to pitch in front of their home country fans. They are expected to control the pace early. With first-inning jitters and a neutral stadium, many bettors are backing NRFI in this matchup.
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Shohei Ohtani Over 0.5 Home Runs (+225)
All eyes are on Shohei Ohtani back in Japan, and the betting market reflects that. Ohtani hit 54 home runs last season and will be extra motivated playing in front of Japanese fans. While Imanaga is a fellow countryman, Ohtani has a .498 career slugging percentage vs lefties and 56 home runs in just over 1,000 ABs. That said, Imanaga had Ohtani’s number in their only career meeting last year, striking him out in an 0-for-5 day. He has been crushing the ball in Spring Training with a 1.040 OPS. This is the highest plus-money prop for the game.
Michael Busch Under 0.5 Total Bases (-110)
Michael Busch had strong numbers against the Dodgers last season, batting .333 with two home runs, but he’ll face Yamamoto, who has some of the best strikeout stuff in the game. Busch went 0-for-4 with two Ks in his only career meeting with Yamamoto last season. Given Busch’s inconsistency against elite pitching, the public is hammering the under on his total bases.
Max Muncy Under 0.5 Total Bases (+100)
Max Muncy has historically struggled against left-handed pitching, hitting just .172 against lefties in 2024. With Imanaga on the mound, bettors are taking the plus-money value on Muncy to go hitless. Muncy went 1-for-3 with a strikeout and home run in his only career meeting with Imanaga in 2024. The slugger is still a threat for home runs, but if Imanaga can limit the long ball, this under could hit.
The Tokyo Series opener between the Dodgers and Cubs will set the tone for the MLB season, and bettors are already jumping on some of the biggest props of the game. Whether it’s Freddie Freeman’s hitting consistency, Shohei Ohtani’s home run potential, or trusting elite pitching early, these most bet props reflect where the action is heading.
