New York Yankees All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu has the attention of oddsmakers with his stellar first-half performance.
The 30-year-old infielder is second in updated American League MVP odds to the overwhelming favorite, Angels outfielder Mike Trout (1/3), according to sportsbetting.ag. While bettors would need to invest $300 to win $100 on a Trout MVP win, LeMahieu is 5/1 ($100 bet wins $500).
LeMahieu hit .336 with 12 home runs and 63 RBIs in his first 81 games with the Yankees, batting in the middle of a thunderous lineup and getting attention that didn’t find him while with the Colorado Rockies from 2012-2018. In 2016, he hit .348 with 192 hits, but his career high of 66 RBIs could fall by the end of the weekend.
Trout continues to raise the bar for Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and has already claimed a pair of MVP trophies, in 2014 and 2016.
Trout is batting .301 with 28 home runs and 67 RBIs in 87 games this season.
Reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts dipped from second to Trout at the start of the season to 33/1 odds in a grouping that includes Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez and Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers.
Ahead of that pack are Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco (12/1), Rangers slugger Joey Gallo (20/1) and Athletics All-Star Matt Chapman (20/1).
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge opened the season third in the MVP odds but is not among the top 13 at the break.