The New York Yankees begin their quest for a historic 28th World Series title on Tuesday night as they host the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Divisional Series (TBS, 7:37 p.m.).
All eyes will be on the easy favorite to win this season’s league Most Valuable Player award: Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.
You will see Judge right away. He will lead off in the bottom of the first.
Where His Contract Stands
Just hours before the Yankees’ season opener at home against their hated rival, the Boston Red Sox, on April 8, Judge declined a new contract that would have paid him $213.5 million over seven seasons from 2023-29.
Instead, Judge signed a one-year contract at $19 million, which avoided an arbitration hearing. He said he would not negotiate a long-term deal during the season.
Basically, Judge gambled on himself and won.
People getting behind him betting in New York won as well.
By the way, the Yankees are favored in their series against Cleveland in New York MLB betting.
FanDuel NY has the Yankees as a -220 favorite to make it to the ALCS.
Rating Judge’s Monster Season
Now eligible for free agency after the postseason, Judge had one of the most historic seasons in the history of the game. He set an American League record with 62 home runs, tied for the major league lead in RBI with 131 and just missed out on a Triple Crown with a .311 batting average.
It got EmpireStakes.com to wonder: Where does it rank among the greatest season by a hitter in MLB history?
Here is a look at the best season of some of baseball’s legends.
Judge Home Run Chase Insight
During Judge’s quest for 62, he generated much interest in NY betting apps and around the nation in jurisdictions where prop wagering is legalized.
Player props are one of the most popular forms of prop betting, allowing an individual to bet on the performance of certain player within a game.
DraftKings Sportsbook NY offered a 60% boost on Judge to hit a home run on Sept. 20, and then a 61% boost to hit a home run from Sept. 21-26.
Outcomes: Judge hit his 60th HR in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates to tie Babe Ruth on Sept 20, but did not hit the record-tying No. 61 until Sept. 28 in the top of the seventh inning in Toronto.
On the day he hit his record-breaking 62nd HR, Caesars Sportsbook had Judge at +240 to hit a home run in the second game of the doubleheader at the Texas Rangers on Oct. 4.
The result was quick as he hit the historic blast in the top of the first inning in Game 2.
“During the past three weeks, Aaron Judge to hit a home run was by far our most popular prop wager, receiving 10 to 20 times more action than any other player,” said Eric Biggio, Caesars Sportsbook Lead Baseball Trader. “On some days the decision on the Judge home run prop was more than some individual MLB games.”
Shows what an amazing season he had.
Now let’s see what he can do in the postseason.
Don’t miss EmpireStakes.com for analysis of betting in New York as well as for the best NY betting promos.
