Were less than a week away from Opening Day, and the buzz surrounding baseballs return is palpable. Even though Major League Baseball will be playing a shortened, 60-game regular season due to the pandemic, the usual prestigious awards are still up for grabs.
Here is a quick look at FOXBets favorites to win each award, along with some quick wagering insight from FOX Sports’ resident gambling expert, Jason McIntyre. (Odds current as of 7/17).
Article continues below …
Coming over in an offseason blockbuster trade between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers, LAs prized acquisition joins a team that has World-Series-or-bust vibes.
Betts can count himself in esteemed company if he wins this years NL MVP award, too, as the 2018 AL MVP would join Frank Robinson as the second player ever to win the award in both leagues.
The results are in!
MLB on FOX fans picked @ronaldacunajr24 to win the NL MVP Award in 2020! pic.twitter.com/iDsYCobmvo
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 16, 2020
Other favorites: Cody Bellinger +650, Christian Yelich +750, Ronald Acuna Jr. +900
J-Macs Take: Yelich +750. Betts and Bellinger cancel each other out on the Dodgers, and Yelich wins his second MVP in three years.
AL MVP favorite – Mike Trout +125
Trout has the shortest odds of any major award available to wager on via FOXBet, and for good reason. The Los Angeles Angels center fielder has taken home the trophy three times (2014, 16, 19) and finished second four more (in 2012, 13, 15, 18).
Taking home a fourth award would put Trout a notch above the likes of teammate Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle and a host of other legends that have all won three MVPs.
The results are in!
MLB on FOX fans picked @MikeTrout to win the AL MVP Award in 2020! pic.twitter.com/fhp40j7DPe
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 15, 2020
Other favorites: Aaron Judge +800, Francisco Lindor +1000, Anthony Rendon +1300
J-Macs Take: Lindor +1000. Only 26, he has three top 10 MVP finishes already. Finally breaks through to win it.
NL Cy Young favorite – Jacob DeGrom +333
Despite some injury uncertainty entering the season, DeGrom looks on track to be on the mound for Opening Day, per the New York Post.
Should DeGrom win the Cy Young, hell tie Mets legend Tom Seaver for the teams all-time lead with 3.
@AROD’s TOP 5 PITCHERS TO WATCH IN 2020
1. Jacob deGrom – @Mets2. Gerrit Cole – @Yankees3. Max Scherzer – @Nationals4. Stephen Strasburg – @Nationals5. Justin Verlander – @astrospic.twitter.com/UrUSe50Ll0
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 14, 2020
Other favorites: Max Scherzer +400, Walker Buehler +750, Jack Flaherty +900
J-Macs Take: DeGrom +333. Becomes the first pitcher since Randy Johnson to win three straight Cy Young awards.
AL Cy Young favorite – Gerrit Cole +300
The Yankees lured Cole to the Big Apple with the largest contract ever signed by a pitcher, a whopping nine-year, $324 million deal. A strikeout machine, in 2019 led the AL in punchouts (326), strikeouts per nine innings pitched (13.8) and ERA (2.50).
Cole narrowly missed out on the Cy Young last year, finishing second to then-Astros teammate Justin Verlander.
The results are in!
MLB on FOX fans picked @GerritCole45 to win the AL Cy Young Award in 2020! pic.twitter.com/1CFdmWaKr9
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 17, 2020
Other favorites: Justin Verlander +600, Shane Bieber +900, Blake Snell +1000
J-Macs Take: Cole +300. Tough to bet against the most overpowering pitcher in the AL.
NL ROY favorite – Gavin Lux +250
A 2016 first-round pick by the Dodgers, Lux appears poised for a breakthrough season in 2020. The left-handed hitting middle infielder has plenty of clout within the organization, perhaps even carrying an untouchable designation when it came to previous trade talks.
Stage fright for the rook? Nah. pic.twitter.com/5DhnX0pjJM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 4, 2019
Other favorites: Daulton Varsho +300, Mitch Keller +700, Carter Kieboom +900
J-Macs Take: Kieboom +900. By all indications, he’s up for the tall task of replacing star Anthony Rendon at 3B for the Washington Nationals.
AL ROY favorite – Luis Robert +400
The No. 3 overall prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline, Robert hit a bomb in an intrasquad game earlier this week while falling DOWN. No, really.
Luis Robert hits bombs even when hes falling. pic.twitter.com/GVRkj42FZd
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 11, 2020
Other favorites: Jesus Luzardo +500, Michael Kopech +600, Brendan McKay +700
J-Macs Take: Robert +400. I already took the White Sox win total over, and I’m all in on this team to surprise in the AL.