Before you know it, the halfway point of the MLB season will be here, and there is plenty of news going on in Major League Baseball.
Aaron Judge has taken control of the AL MVP race, the defending World Series champs are looking lethal again, and the Blue Jays have called up a top prospect at catcher.
Find out about that and more in this week's MLB notebook!
MLB Notebook: June 10-12
Click on each item to read the full update.
- All rise for the Judge
- Braves are starting to click
- Will Chicago trade Contreras?
- Blue Jays call up top prospect
- Juan Soto isn't going anywhere...for now
- Featured weekend matchups
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MLB betting news for this weekend
All rise for the Judge
The New York Yankees have been dominant in 2022, boasting the best record in all of baseball at 41-16.
While the Yankees starting rotation has been a pleasant surprise, Aaron Judge is absolutely raking at the plate. Judge leads the entire MLB in home runs (22), slugging percentage (.671), and OPS (1.055).
Fair to say that Aaron Judge is in good company ????#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/3ajpVLh6Sz
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 8, 2022
There's no question Judge is surrounded by great bats, including Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo, but the outfielder looks primed to take home the MVP award for the first time in his career.
After finishing second in 2017 behind Jose Altuve (during the Astros cheating scandal), and fourth last year, Judge currently has the best odds to win AL MVP at +120.
If the Yankees end up with the best record in the American League, the narrative of Judge finally winning the award in a contract year seems highly realistic.
Braves are starting to click
The Atlanta Braves started off their season really struggling, but the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. has put a jolt of energy into this team.
Acuna is slashing .393/.455/.750 so far this month, and the Braves have won eight in a row now as they are suddenly in a Wild Card spot.
Ronald Acuña Jr.'s second home run of the night traveled 464 feet.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) June 8, 2022
4 6 4 pic.twitter.com/pvDiPsruQt
The Braves lineup is loaded offensively elsewhere with names like Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, and Ozzie Albies. Young catcher Willson Contreras is also coming into his own, hitting for an OPS+ of 186 through 24 games.
Atlanta's bullpen is also been tremendous, ranking first in FIP. A.J. Minter is first in NL WAR for an arm coming out of the pen in 2022, and closer Kenley Jansen has a WHIP of 0.94 as their closer.
There's a lot of value in jumping on the Braves' World Series odds, as they are listed at +1,600. Expect that number to continue to drop as the season goes on.
Will Chicago trade Contreras?
We've already touched on William Contreras, and now it's time to talk about Willson Contreras, who avoided arbitration with the Cubs and agreed to a one-year, $9.63 million contract on Thursday.
The Cubs have yet to extend the two-time All-Star to a big deal, and will likely receive the same kind of lucrative contract the likes of J.T. Realmuto and Salvador Perez got when they hit the open market.
The 30-year-old is in the prime of his career and is having his best season yet, leading all catchers in home runs.
Most HR by catchers this season:
— Luke Arkins (@luke_arkins) June 8, 2022
Wilson Contreras - 10
Daulton Varsho - 8
Salvador Perez - 8
Cal Raleigh - 7 ????
Jonah Heim - 7
William Contreras - 7
Gary Sanchez - 7
Mitch Garver - 7#Mariners
Contreras and Jason Heyward as the lone remaining member of the Cubs' 2016 championship team. It'll be interesting to see if Contreras factors into the Cubs' future plans after 2023 as they continue their rebuild.
Blue Jays call up top prospect
With Danny Jansen landing back on the injured list, the Jays have called up top catching prospect Gabriel Moreno to back up Alejandro Kirk. Moreno is the No. 4 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com and has hit .324 in 36 AAA games this season with Buffalo.
It's difficult to overstate the rarity of the #BlueJays' catching depth with Jansen, Kirk and No. 1 prospect Gabriel Moreno.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) June 5, 2022
This is a thin position across baseball. Foolish depth.
With Kirk, Jansen, and now Moreno at Charlie Montoyo's disposal, there's no doubt one of these guys will eventually be traded for a position of need elsewhere.
In the offseason, there was a lot of chatter surrounding trade rumors involving Kirk in particular. His stock has now never been higher as he is batting .322/.401/.477 in 2022 and could possibly start at catcher for the AL in the All-Star game in July.
While Moreno's future in Toronto seems a little up in the air due to the surplus of talented catchers, he will be activated at some point during the Jays' weekend series in Detroit.
Juan Soto isn't going anywhere...for now
The Washington Nationals have been abysmal since winning their first-ever World Series title in 2019. Since then, prominent players like Anthony Rendon, Matt Scherzer, and Trea Turner have all either left in the offseason or been dealt, leaving Juan Soto all alone in the nation's capital.
The Nats' overall stats haven't been great, but Soto's have remained elite. While the 23-year-old megastar's batting average is down this year (.227), Soto still leads the MLB in walks and has an OPS+ over 140.
Juan Soto has 45 base on balls this season (1st in MLB).
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) June 6, 2022
No other player has more than 35 base on balls. pic.twitter.com/c1WZESitZ5
While trade rumors have circulated for the last month regarding Soto potentially being dealt, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo basically shut down the notion of it on 106.7 The Fan earlier this month.
Soto may end up the highest-paid player in baseball history when he becomes a free agent in 2025, and you can't help but think of former Nationals superstar Bryce Harper leaving D.C. in free agency a few years back.
Soto is tied for fourth in NL MVP odds with Harper at +1,000. Given Washington being such a non-factor this season, I wouldn't consider a wager unless his odds give a better return on investment.
Featured MLB games for this weekend
Friday, June 10
• Rays at Twins: Drew Rasmussen vs. Devin Smeltzer, 8:10 p.m. ET, Bally Sports
• Dodgers at Giants: Walker Buehler vs. Logan Webb, 10:15 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, NBCS-BAY
Saturday, June 11
• Cubs at Yankees: Matt Swarmer vs. Jordan Montgomery, 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
• Red Sox at Mariners: Michael Wacha vs. George Kirby, 10:10 p.m. ET, NESN, Root Sports
Sunday, June 12
• Marlins at Astros: Edward Cabrera vs. Justin Verlander, 2:10 p.m. ET, MASN/ATTSN-SW
• Mets at Angels: Taijuan Walker vs. Patrick Sandoval, 7:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Check out the full MLB schedule, matchups, odds, and more!
