Judge vs Stanton: Which Yankee Will Come Out on Top?
- Will Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton surpass the exploits of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris?
- Will Stanton lead the Major Leagues in home runs for the second straight year?
- Will Judge’s strikeout woes continue?
Ask any true baseball fan about the summer of ’61 and their eyes will light up as they recount the legendary power displays of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, a pair of hard-hitting Yankees teammates who homered their way into the record books. It was a season that shaped the game, and it could happen again in 2018 thanks to the pairing of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The two larger-than life sluggers will have a chance to rewrite history themselves if they can continue to pound the ball into the upper deck.
Sportsbooks are making the most of their power coupling by offering a series of enticing props on their home run and strike out totals. We’ve included the numbers below along with our own insights and betting advice.
Most Home Runs
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Giancarlo Stanton | -160 |
| Aaron Judge | +140 |
Sportsbooks are giving Stanton the edge over Judge in most home runs, and it isn’t hard to see why. The six-foot-six right fielder led the Majors with a career-high 59 dingers in 2017 and has hit 30 or more homers in a season four times. “Cruz” has repeatedly proven he can produce regardless of match-ups, and should flourish with so much added protection in New York’s stacked lineup.
Judge offers more betting value, but Stanton is the safer bet.
Judge is far from a slouch when it comes to going yard, but he did experience some power shortages during his rookie season. The Silver Slugger recipient hit just three home runs in the month of August and was considerably less effective away from Yankee Stadium. It seems unlikely he’ll fall prey to a sophomore slump, but it certainly isn’t uncommon for players to regress during their second full season.
Judge offers more betting value, but Stanton is the safer bet.
Most Strike Outs
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Giancarlo Stanton | +290 |
| Aaron Judge | -350 |
When it comes to striking out, Judge is in a class all his own. The California native set a single season mark for a non-pitcher by striking out in 37 straight games in 2017. His 208 K’s were also a Major League rookie record, as were his 16 strikeouts against the Indians in the American League Division Series.
Stanton is no stranger to whiffing himself, but his 163 strike outs in 2017 pale in comparison to Judge’s mammoth totals.
The value lies with Stanton, but the smart money should be on Judge.
Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.
