The Yankees are in the midst of a West Coast road trip, and so far, so good. New York has gone 4-1 over its last five games, in addition to winning eight straight series. As always, Aaron Judge has been carrying the team at the plate. #99 and the Yankees will face an early-season challenge tonight when the arch-rival Red Sox visit the Bronx. What kind of production should we expect from the outfielder on Friday?
The Yankees enter tonight as favorites (-206) over the Red Sox, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs. Before the start of Friday’s matchup, here’s my favorite Aaron Judge player prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Aaron Judge 1+ single (+125)
Aaron Judge’s best trait is clearly his ability to hit for power. Since 2021, no player has driven in more home runs (217) or RBIs (498) than the six-time All-Star. However, the big man has made a concerted effort to improve on his contact skills. Therefore, his eye-popping 2025 slash line of .392/.493/.758 shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Still, those absurd numbers place him in the same company as names such as Aaron, Mays, Ruth and Bonds. At this point, it’s safe to say we’re watching one of the greatest hitters to ever live.
Yet, even for legends, this game is no guarantee. That’s especially true when opposing pitching staffs are absolutely terrified of you. Last night, the Guardians opted to intentionally walk Judge two different times. At this point, it’s tough to blame them. On Friday, it’s unlikely the Red Sox will give in to the same degree. Tonight’s starter, Walker Buehler, has had success against the Yankees. In the World Series last October, as a member of the Dodgers, the righty shut out New York over five scoreless innings. Judge went 0-for-3 at the plate during that contest.
It’s been an inconsistent first season in Boston for Buehler. Through nine starts, the 30-year-old has posted a 4.44 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 42 strikeouts. In his most recent outing, the veteran coughed up five runs and ten hits against the Braves. Last postseason aside, this isn’t exactly the most intimidating arm for the Yankees. Judge’s dominance can make him a tricky player to bet on, as most prop lines are fairly pricey. Still, the two-time MVP’s bat-on-ball ability remains underrated. A simple base hit from the slugger tonight could net bettors serious value at plus money.
