Stanton Out Until August; Does It Matter for Yankees’ Odds to Win AL East?

• Giancarlo Stanton is out until August, according to New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman
• Stanton hit 38 home runs for the Yankees last season, but has just one in nine games this year
• New York is as short as -800 to win the AL East; is that still good value with the Yankees holding a 7-game lead?

Injuries have been the story of the New York Yankees’ 2019 season and now they have to deal with yet another one.

Star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will be out until about August but it doesn’t seem like losing him has had much of an impact on the betting lines. The Yankees are still a huge favorite to win the AL East, and as short as -800.

Are they a good bet to do so or is there value on the Rays and/or Red Sox to mount an improbable second-half comeback?

2019 American League East Division Winner Odds

Stanton Out Until August

On Wednesday, the Yankees announced that Stanton would go back on the 10-day injured list and, while it seemed minor at first, general manager Brian Cashman clarified on Thursday that Stanton will be out through all of July.

Stanton has already had an injury-plagued season as he’s only played in nine games this year. He first had a biceps injury, then a shoulder problem, and then a calf injury. This knee injury is his fourth setback of 2019, so one can imagine that the Yankees will be extra cautious with his return.

With Or Without Stanton, The Yankees Are On Fire

As mentioned, Stanton has been out most of the season and it hasn’t slowed the team down. Why worry at this point?

The Yankees started a bit slow, going 6-9 in their first 15 games. Since then, though, they’ve been nearly untouchable. They’ve won 46 of 64 since that rough start and enter the weekend having won 11 of their last 12 games.

What’s more impressive is who they’ve beaten in that span as they swept the Tampa Bay Rays – the second-place team in the division – and took three of four from the Houston Astros, who are currently the American League favorites. This team is on a roll and it’s mostly been done without Stanton, so why worry now?

Rays and Red Sox Are Scuffling

The Yankees currently have a seven-game lead in the division. If they’re not going to win it, who will?

There’s the Rays, who are having a strong season but have clearly faded after their hot start. This is a team that was 35-19 on May 30th but has since dropped 16 of their last 26 games. While the Yankees have made the ascent up, the Rays have headed in the opposite direction.

[T]he Rays … are having a strong season but have clearly faded after their hot start.

Then there’s the Boston Red Sox, who are the defending World Series champs. However, this squad can’t seem to get out of their own way. They’re nine games back from the top spot, which is almost an insurmountable lead given who they’re chasing.

While the Bo-Sox are playing their best baseball of the season right now, winning 10 of 14, their bullpen has major issues and overall, the offense has taken a step back from last season. The Red Sox just don’t seem as hungry as they were in 2018.

Yankees Are The Best Bet

There are two other good teams in the American League East who can win it but I just don’t see it happening. The Rays have faded lately while the Red Sox have scuffled all season long.

There’s a lot of juice on the Yankees but they’re the best bet – even without Stanton.