MLB Betting: How Aaron Judge’s Incredible Hot Streak Changes the AL MVP Race

Michael Savio pic
By:
Michael Savio
06/10/2024
MLB
Baseball news

Highlights

  • Judge leads the league in home runs and OPS
  • The Yankees have the best record in the AL
  • Witt Jr. has 19 stolen bases this season

Aaron Judge’s disappointing 2023 campaign seems like a distant memory now. The Yankee slugger has been scorching hot for over a month and is now a heavy favorite to win the 2024 AL MVP. New York sportsbooks have seen bets on the former award winner come pouring in, but can he possibly keep his impressive play going?

Below, we will share how our US Legal Sports Betting experts view the AL MVP amid Judge’s impressive run. We’ll share the latest odds and insights, giving you what you need to bet confidently at MLB betting sites.

Odds for the 2024 AL MVP

The AL MVP race has a heavy favorite for the first time this season. Judge’s hot streak has put distance between himself and the other contenders, meaning there are a lot of great prices on the board. Here are the latest odds to win the race:

PlayerOdds
Aaron Judge+120
Juan Soto+400
Bobby Witt Jr.+450
Gunnar Henderson+500
Kyle Tucker+1300

Odds courtesy of BetRivers Sportsbooks. Check out our full BetRivers Sportsbook review!

How Judge Became the Favorite

It’s hard to believe that Aaron Judge’s batting average was .197 on May 2. The 32-year-old now owns a .305 average and is showing no signs of slowing down. He currently leads all of baseball in home runs and OPS (1.139) while ranking second in RBIs and twelfth in batting average. In the first ten days of June alone Judge has a .538 average with four home runs and 14 RBIs.

While Judge can’t possibly keep this pace up all season, there is reason to believe he will once again finish with MVP-worthy numbers. When the outfielder won the award in 2022, he finished with a .311 batting average as well as 62 home runs and 131 RBIs. He may not reach those power numbers, but he is on pace to come close while once again finishing with an average above .300.

On top of his impressive play, the Yankees also have the best record in the AL. The addition of Juan Soto has helped, but Judge’s red-hot bot has been keeping this team atop the standings.

Can Anyone Top Judge?

It will be incredibly hard for any power hitter to overtake Judge for the AL MVP. If the slugger can keep up his impressive home run and RBI totals, he would likely be able to outduel both Gunnar Henderson and Kyle Tucker to win the award.

Fellow Yankee Juan Soto owns the second-best odds to win the award. He has a .318 batting average to go with 17 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a 1.027 OPS. Soto’s consistency makes him the best bet to win if Judge fades, but it will be very hard to overcome his teammates numbers if both players remain healthy.

If Judge remains healthy and swinging the bat well, we see Bobby Witt Jr. being the only true challenger. He currently owns a .320 batting average to go with 11 home runs, 47 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. The 22-year-old is still developing but is a five-tool player who is getting better as the season goes on.