Steve Starr
- BetUS is offering a prop on what MLB club will be next to be involved in a bench-clearing brawl
- The Yankees and Red Sox top the list at +400 because of their longtime AL East rivalry
- There is no love lost between Houston and Los Angeles since the Astros used a sign-stealing scheme to steal the 2017 World Series
While we teach our children not to condone violence, everyone loves a good bench-clearing brawl. One player violates an unwritten rule of the game or admires his home run for a beat too long and the pitcher inevitably responds by whizzing a 90-mile-per-hour fastball by his head. Next thing you know, the batter is charging the mound and teammates on both sides are pouring out of the dugout for a good old-fashioned donnybrook.
Something like this occurred just over a week ago in a game between the Pirates and the Mets. And while no one knows when it will happen again, you can bet on what MLB team will be involved in the next bench-clearing altercation. Let’s look at the odds and be sure to refer to our MLB 2021 betting guide for further wagering tips and advice.
Next Team In Bench Clearing Brawl
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|
| New York Yankees | +400 |
| Boston Red Sox | +400 |
| Houston Astros | +600 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +600 |
| New York Mets | +800 |
| Chicago White Sox | +800 |
| Chicago Cubs | +1000 |
| San Diego Padres | +1000 |
| Oakland Athletics | +1200 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +1400 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +1400 |
| Cleveland Indians | +1600 |
| San Francisco Giants | +1600 |
| Minnesota Twins | +1800 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1800 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +2000 |
| Washington Nationals | +2000 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +2200 |
| Kansas City Royals | +2200 |
| Atlanta Braves | +2400 |
| Colorado Rockies | +2400 |
| Seattle Mariners | +2800 |
| Detroit Tigers | +2800 |
| Miami Marlins | +2800 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +2800 |
| Balimore Orioles | +3300 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +3300 |
| Texas Rangers | +3300 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +3300 |
Big market clubs top the list
While the New York Yankees certainly aren’t in World Series contention this year, they are the co-favorites with the Boston Red Sox (+400) to get in the next dugout-clearing fight.
This is likely due to their historic rivalry, but a cursorary Google search reveals the the two franchises haven’t been in fisticuffs since 2018. Still, fans of a certain age will never forget the 2003 ALCS brawl when Hall-of-Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez grabbed 72-year-old Don Zimmer by the head and threw him to the ground.
Yups. Honorable mention is bench clearing brawl where Pedro flipped Don Zimmer. https://t.co/l859NtcEVz pic.twitter.com/Yps9YHJxa2
— No Jodas Al Proximo (@QF2G) December 30, 2020
Houston and Los Angeles are next on the board at +600 – the two clubs were last involved in a bench-clearing brouhaha in July 2020. That was the first game between the Astros and Dodgers since the revelation that Houston illegally stole signs and banged on trash cans to beat LA in the 2017 World Series.
While the teams haven’t fought since, a vicious brawl broke out in the stands of Minute Maid Park during a May game between the Dodgers and Astros. Cell phone video posted to social media showed at least four people throwing punches and one man bleeding profusely, proving that this rivalry is still running hot.
Other bets to brawl
The New York Mets (+800) have been involved in two bench-clearing altercations this season – one last week after an altercation between Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman and Pirates (+3300) first basemen John Nogowksi, and one against the divisional rival Phillies (+1800) in early May.
The Chicago Cubs (+1000) and Cincinnati Reds (+1400) also got into a bench-clearing shouting match back in May after Amir Garrett struck out Anthony Rizzo and the two exchanged words. What all these incidents have in common is that while the dugouts emptied, no punches were thrown – which is likely essential to BetUS paying out this bet.
Benches have cleared in Philadelphia after Jose Alvarado yelled at Dom Smith after striking him out. pic.twitter.com/NOBx5zmOBK
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 1, 2021
Given the unpredictable nature of a bench-clearing brawl, which could be ignited by the smallest slight at any second of any baseball game, we advise wagering on the Pirates, Orioles, Rangers and Blue Jays as all these clubs offer the most lucrative payouts at +3300.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
