HR Derby and All-Star Game Betting Preview

The MLB All-Star Break begins tonight with the sluggers getting the spotlight treatment in the annual Home Run Derby. This year’s field is a young one, but expect all eyes to be on defending champ Giancarlo Stanton and rookie Aaron Judge.

Stanton is the only player in this year’s field that has competed in the Derby before. He won last year after slamming 61 home runs in San Diego’s Petco Park. Stanton gets home field advantage this year with the Derby and game being played in Miami at Marlins Park. Despite Stanton’s Derby experience and familiarity with Marlins Park he’s a co-favorite with Judge at the Bovada Sportsbook, where they’re both listed at +200.

Judge has taken the league by storm this season. He leads the league with 30 home runs at the break and most of them have been moonshots - Judge has hit the longest home run this season at 496 feet. That’s why he’s the favorite on the Bovada Sportsbook longest home run prop at +160.

The rest of the newcomers in this year’s Derby field include Cody Bellinger (+650), Mike Moustakas (+1400), Miguel Sano (+700), Charlie Blackmon (+1400), Justin Bour (+1400), and Gary Sanchez (+1200).

If you’re looking to take a flier on one of the underdogs Bellinger and Sano look like the obvious choices. Bellinger, also a rookie this season, has crushed 25 home runs despite playing the majority of his games in a pitcher’s park, Dodger Stadium. Sano boasts epic power with 21 homers on the season and could make a splash when given the chance in the Derby.

Turning to the All-Star Game itself, the early odds at the Bovada Sportsbook list the National League as a slight favorite at -115. The American League is at -105 and will be looking for a fifth straight win in the Midsummer Classic. Last year the AL topped the NL 4-2 in San Diego. The AL is 11-3 in the last 14 All-Star Games.

The All-Star MVP odds aren’t available yet, but should be soon and are always a fun wager. Last year Eric Hosmer took home MVP honors, ending the reign of Mike Trout who had won the previous two years.

One important note that may help you in your MVP props pick, five of the last six MVP winners were starters. With Trout out of this year’s game, the popular pick will likely be Judge, while Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Nolan Arenado could be smart picks if they continue their recent hot streaks in the game.