Best Bets to Lead the League in RBI This Season

MVP favorites Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are also the favorites to lead the majors in RBIs. DraftKings price the duo at +550 and +650, respectively. The pair led their leagues in RBIs last season, with Judge topping the majors thanks to a tally of 144.

The MLB leader in ribbies has had 130 or more in each of the last three seasons. The RBI leader has averaged 129.9 RBIs across the last 10 full MLB seasons.

Over that period, Anthony Rendon in 2019 and Adrián González in 2014 are the only players to lead the majors in runs batted in while hitting fewer than 41 homers.

It’s not exactly breaking news that the league’s best power hitters bat the most runs in, yet it’s clear 40+ home runs is almost a necessity to lead the majors in RBIs. The last three RBI leaders hit 50+ homers.

When it comes to DraftKings’ most RBIs market, Ohtani and Judge are followed by a string of sluggers in Yordan Alvarez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Matt Olson. Then it’s José Ramírez, after a joint-career-high of 39 bombs in 2024, trailed by Pete Alonso, Anthony Santander, and Juan Soto.

RBIs might be an individual statistic for this purpose, but recording north of 130 ribbies requires more than an elite hitter. Even with 60 home runs, a hitter needs players on base to contend for the RBI title. A top 10 offense is a must, which likely rules out Santander and Guerrero.

The Houston Astros’ offense has been weakened with the departures of Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. Ramírez’s Cleveland Guardians are always mediocre offensively, and the All-Star third baseman only averages 108 RBI per 162 games over his last eight seasons.

Olson led the big leagues with 139 RBIs two seasons ago. His OPS dropped by 203 points in 2024. Alonso played every game last season but finished with 88 RBIs. Soto has topped out at 110 RBIs.

The value in this market lies beyond the 10 players with the shortest odds. Olson might have had a huge 2023, but there is better value on a couple of his teammates. If the Ohtani price seems too short given his increased injury risk as he returns to the mound, there are alternatives if you want to take a Los Angeles Dodger.

Overlooked Freeman

Freddie Freeman is a few months removed from one of the biggest home runs in World Series history. He batted third in all but eight of his games in 2024. The vast majority of those come with Mookie Betts and Ohtani hitting in front of him.

Despite the walk-off grand slam last October, Freeman is sometimes overlooked on the star-studded Dodgers. He’s not going to be MVP. His game isn’t as highlight-generating as their high-stuff pitchers, Betts, or Ohtani.

Freeman, though, is one of the most reliable hitters in the majors, who might have the most RBI opportunities of any hitter in 2025.

The former Brave had a .908 with RISP last season. For his career, he’s at a .995 OPS with RISP and .955 with men on.

The Dodgers led the majors in wRC+ in 2024. Only 15 hitters had more plate appearances with runners on base than Freeman, despite injury keeping Betts to only 116 games. Just four hitters had more plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

This Dodgers lineup should be a top three offense again in 2025. With better health, they could feasibly be even better last year, giving Freeman over 200 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

Freeman doesn’t fit the usual blueprint for an RBI leader. He only averages 30 homers per 162 games over the last nine seasons, so his route to topping the RBI charts is following the Rendon model. It’s certainly within reach, though, considering he’s led the majors in doubles in three of the last five campaigns. At +3000, there’s value here.

Riley Destined For Huge Year

Injury kept Austin Riley to 110 games and 56 RBIs last season. Despite being in the top 10 in xwOBA, the Atlanta Braves’ offense posted a 100 wRC+. Their numbers were down across the board, but Riley is a candidate for a massive 2025.

The third baseman was in the 90^th percentile in bat speed. His hard-hit rate was 96^th percentile. Nothing in Riley’s underlying numbers indicated 2024 was anything more than an elongated slump – his flyball rate was his highest since his rookie year, he kept hitting the ball hard and maintained the same level of strike zone discipline.

After a slow start to the year, his numbers improved once summer rolled around. Look for him to build on that in 2025.

For his career, Riley has been comfortable at the plate when runners are on base. His career OPS is marginally higher with two out and RISP, plus he’s got a .910 OPS in medium leverage situations.

Backing Riley at +2200 is banking on the Braves returning to their 2023 form (when Olson led the majors in ribbies). Atlanta’s 125 wRC+ was eight points ahead of anyone else. Three Braves were in the top nine in RBIs.

In 2023, Riley had the fifth-most plate appearances with runners on and the fourth-most with RISP. His 90 wRC+ with RISP contributed to a lower RBI total, but clutch hitting doesn’t tend to carry to indicate future performance.

This Braves lineup is talented enough to put up another elite offensive season. The return of Ronald Acuña Jr. will help, as will the signing of Jurickson Profar.

Where Freeman is unlikely to cross the 35-homer threshold, Riley is closer to the usual RBI leader profile. Since 2020, the former first-round pick has averaged 35 homers per 162 games. Atlanta barely rests its starters, so Riley will get close to 700 plate appearances if he’s healthy all year. That’s a lot of time to rack up RBIs for a player with 45-homer potential.

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