Giancarlo Stanton Favored to Lead MLB in Home Runs
Scott Morris | August 1, 2017
Major League Baseball enters the last two months of its regular season on Tuesday. While teams are battling for division titles and playoff berths, players are trying to help their teams win by producing big at the plate.
As the season heads to its stretch run it appears one of the individual stats – home runs – will be decided between two sluggers, rookie Aaron Judge and veteran Giancarlo Stanton.
As of August 1, both were tied for the lead in the majors with home runs at 33 apiece, three home runs ahead of third place Mike Moustakas. Odds are that one of the two will lead baseball in home runs this season.
During the first half of the season, Yankees rookie Judge hit 30 home runs, but has slowed down considerably since. Over his past 16 games since the break for the All-Star Game, Judge is batting just .158 with only three homes runs.
Slumps, especially during your first season in the big leagues are not uncommon and part of that is due to road trips. At home, Judge has a slugging percentage of .775 but on the road that drops to just.500.
The Yankees started after the All-Star break with an 11-game road trip, in which the 6-foot-7 Judge struggled out of the gate. With 32 home games remaining, Judge has more than enough time to start hitting shots out of Yankees Stadium on a regular basis and overcome the slump he has been in.
Stanton, on the other hand, has seen his numbers go up. Since the break for the All-Star Game Stanton has blasted 7 home runs. He is now favored on several sportsbooks at +155 to hit the most home runs this season.
With Stanton it is about nothing more than remaining healthy. Stanton has only played in over 140 games in one season twice during his 8 seasons in the big leagues.
His high in home runs for his career in one season is 37 and he should easily surpass that on his way to leading the National League and possibly the majors in home runs for the season.
Best Odds to Lead Majors in Home Runs
Giancarlo Stanton +155
Aaron Judge +165
Mike Moustakas +900
Cody Bellinger +1000
Khris Davis +1000
