A 28th World Series championship has eluded the New York Yankees for the last 11 seasons.
As always, there are high expectations for the team playing at E. 161st Street and River Avenue in The Bronx.
Could 2021 be the year the drought ends?
Sportsbooks are loving the NY Yankees
From a NJ sports betting perspective, the Bronx Bombers are hard to ignore. New Jersey online sportsbooks are giving the Yankees the second-best odds (+550) in MLB to win this year’s Fall Classic.
New York is favored to represent the American League in the World Series (+230) and capture their 20th AL East Division title (-200).
The Los Angeles Dodgers top the board to repeat as World Series champs in 2021.
Here’s a look at the NY Yankees futures at various NJ sportsbooks.
New York Yankees have the talent
By the franchise’s own standard of World Series or bust, the Yankees have come up short in recent years. Even with four ALCS appearances in the last 10 seasons, the Yanks have not been able to break through.
But the Yankees front office is confident that the current roster is capable of winning it all.
The Baby Bombers, as they are now dubbed, include three potential AL MVPs.
South Jersey native Mike Trout (+200) of the Los Angeles Angels is the early favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook followed by Alex Bregman (+1000) of the Houston Astros.
Aaron Judge, who leads the Yankees trio, is next on the board at +1200.
Gleyber Torres (+2500) and DJ LeMahieu (+3300) are in the conversation, too.
As far as hits leaders go, keep an eye on LeMahieu. He finished the shortened 2020 season with 71, good enough for fifth among all MLB hitters.
Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals is the slight favorite (+1100). He finished with a league best 78 hits.
Tons of competition for the 2021 hits leader in the MLB 🤔 pic.twitter.com/3r25SRsZf5
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) February 20, 2021
The Yanks pitching staff features AL Cy Young favorite Gerrit Cole (+350) in the starting rotation. He also is he current favorite to lead the league in strikeouts.
The pitcher with the most strikeouts this season will be __________ pic.twitter.com/oy9JmVqCJg
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) February 17, 2021
And the New York Yankees have a strong bullpen, too. Closer Aroldis Chapman is a key piece. He is (+750) to finish as the MLB saves leader.
Liam Hendricks (+750) of the Oakland A’s and Josh Hader (+800) of the Milwaukee Brewers are drawing early attention, too.
Yankees reporting for spring training
The first day of Spring Training should be a national holiday.
Shouldn’t it?
The New York Yankees started full squad Spring Training Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.
Pulled up to camp 🔥 pic.twitter.com/85SbHf0LDy
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 22, 2021
The 40-man roster includes several new players, including starters Corey Kluber and Jameson Tailon as well as relief pitcher Darren O’Day.
But things are just getting started.
The spring training schedule opens Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. First pitch is 1:05 p.m.
However, there are much bigger games to come.
Opening Day is Thursday, April 1 against the Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m.
But that’s just the first of 162 regular season games. Bettors putting money down on New York, Yankees not Mets, to win it all, already have those calendars marked for late October.
That is when maybe, just maybe, that 28th World Series title will become a reality.
