2019 MLB Home Run King Odds: George Springer Listed as Favorite
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Updated: July 10, 2019 at 12:03 pm EDTPublished:
- BookMaker favors Houston Astros right fielder George Springer to lead the Majors in home runs in 2019
- Springer has already clubbed 16 homers this season
- He set a career high with 34 home runs in 2017
So far this season, George Springer has displayed a spring in his step and power in his bat. Both qualities have helped him to grab a share of the lead in home runs in Major League Baseball.
Springer and Christian Yelich each have clouted 16 homers, but only Springer has knocked an inside-the-park home run.
His 16th home run of the season against the Detroit Tigers saw Springer burn up the basepaths to beat the ball home.
No wonder BookMaker has established him as the favorite to lead the Majors in home runs this season.
2019 MLB Home Run Leader Odds
| Who Will Be 2019 MLB Home Run Leader? | Home Runs | Odds at BookMaker |
|---|---|---|
| George Springer, Astros | 16 | +400 |
| Christian Yelich, Brewers | 16 | +550 |
| Cody Bellinger, Dodgers | 15 | +550 |
| Joey Gallo, Rangers | 12 | +1000 |
| Khris Davis, Athletics | 12 | +1200 |
| Mike Trout, Angels | 9 | +1500 |
| Joc Pederson, Dodgers | 13 | +1500 |
| Eddie Rosario, Twins | 13 | +1500 |
| Nolan Arenado, Rockies | 11 | +2000 |
| Marcel Ozuna, Cardinals | 12 | +2500 |
| Edwin Encarnacio, Mariners | 12 | +2500 |
| Jay Bruce, Mariners | 12 | +2500 |
| Javier Baez, Cubs | 11 | +3000 |
| Rhys Hoskins, Phillies | 11 | +3000 |
| Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals | 10 | +5000 |
| Trevor Story, Rockies | 9 | +5000 |
| Bryce Harper, Phillies | 7 | +7500 |
| Matt Chapman, Athletics | 10 | +10000 |
| Aaron Judge, Yankees | 5 | +10000 |
| Jose Altuve, Astros | 9 | +30000 |
| FIELD | N/A | +450 |
*Odds taken 05/15/19
Springer hit just 22 dingers in 140 games last season. He clubbed a career-high 34 homers in 2017.
By George, Springer is Slugging
Named the American League Player of the Week, Springer has clubbed seven homers in his past 10 games. He’s given every indication that he could be in for an MVP-caliber campaign. The Houston outfielder is among baseball’s top 10 in wins above replacement, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, hits, total bases, and RBI.
Mama said knock you out. #TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/dIB4ouHPLq
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 12, 2019
It’s not the first time Springer has started a season on an impressive tear. Through the first 83 games of the 2017 campaign, Springer batted .310 with 27 home runs. A quad injury slowed him in the second half and he finished with those career-high 34 dingers.
Yell for Yelich
Another slugger who’s gone on a tear to launch the season is Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich. The reigning National League MVP drilled 14 balls over the fence in April.
Though he’s slowed somewhat in May, Yelich is the type of power hitter who can get into a groove and finish a week with five or six long balls.
Bellinger Can Belt Them
Lurking one homer of the pace being set by Springer and Yelich, Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers also blasted 14 home runs in the month of April. Bellinger currently leads the league in nine offensive categories including batting average, hits, RBI, total bases, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.
Bellinger knocked 37 balls out of the park while winning NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2017, but cooled down to just 25 homers as a sophomore.
Don’t Doubt Davis
One thing you have to give Oakland Athletics DH Khris Davis – the man is consistent. He’s hit exactly .247 in each of the past four seasons.
Entering 2019, Davis had hit more home runs over the previous three seasons than any other player.
Davis led the majors with 48 homers last season. In 2017, he was second overall with 43 round-trip shots. Entering 2019, Davis had hit the most homers (133) over the previous three seasons than any other player.
Perhaps the most amazing aspect to his power is that Davis plays half his games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, among baseball’s toughest home run ballparks.
Field is Enticing
There are currently six players with at least 12 home runs this season that aren’t given odds to lead the majors by BookMaker. That list includes Houston’s Alex Bregman, tied for fourth with 13 homers. Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell already has 12 homers, as many as he hit all of last season.
https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1128388080162037760
Giancarlo Stanton, the preseason favorite in this category who led the majors with 59 homers in 2017, has been limited to three games this season due to biceps and shoulder ailments.
Slugging it Out
This is not an easy call to make. You can almost eliminate the NL. Stanton, in 2017 with the Marlins, is the only NL player to lead MLB in homers since 2010.
Springer, based on his second-half fade in 2017, is tough to play as favorite. Joey Gallo of Texas strikes out too much.
We’ll go with Davis to win again, becoming the first back-to-back MLB homer leader since Toronto’s Jose Bautista in 2010-11.
Pick: Khris Davis (+1200)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
