Yankees vs. Rangers (Oct. 5): Can Judge overtake Arraez to claim batting title & Triple Crown?

So, there will be no last-day drama in Aaron Judge’s pursuit of history, as the leadoff hitter for the New York Yankees/presumptive 2022 American League MVP/MLB home run and RBI leader hit his 62nd home run last night off of Jesus Tinoco of the Texas Rangers to move into first all by his lonesome atop the franchise and AL charts ahead of the late Roger Maris.

SIXTY-TWO! BASEBALL HISTORY! @TheJudge44 is the American League home run King! pic.twitter.com/QKrcuOvZMU

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 5, 2022

Whether you’re a bettor, a fan, or Aaron Judge himself, you’re likely relieved that there will be no suspense on that front for New York’s regular season finale.

There is, however, one unfinished piece of business: the Triple Crown.

At one point recently, Judge was in a strong position for the Triple Crown. He is 23 homers ahead of Mike Trout for the AL home run crown, and he is seven RBI clear of Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez for the AL RBI crown. Unless Ramirez has a career day today, Judge won’t be caught.

But the stress and tension of the chase, along with not getting a whole heck of a lot to hit, has seen his batting average drop from .317 on September 21 to .311, which puts him four points behind Minnesota’s Luis Arraez, who leads the way in the AL.

It’s not impossible to catch Arraez, but Judge may need a three or four-hit game today to make it happen.

New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers Matchup Info and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Game Time: 4:05 p.m. ET (3:05 p.m. local time)
• How to Watch Yankees vs. Rangers: ESPN+
• Pitching Matchup: RHP Domingo German (14 appearances, 13 starts, 2-4, 3.31 ERA) vs. RHP Glenn Otto (26 starts, 6-10, 4.72 ERA)

Yankees vs. Rangers Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also mention odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Moneyline

• New York Yankees -120
• Texas Rangers +102

Over/Under

• Over 7.5 (-108)
• Under 7.5 (-112)

Run Line

• New York Yankees -1.5 (+146)
• Texas Rangers +1.5 (-176)

Judge is 0 for 3 with one strikeout against Otto, so there’s not much prior history to lean on here. But as has been mentioned in this space multiple times previously, Judge is a much better hitter against RHP (.322 in 435 at-bats) than LHP (.274 in 135 at-bats).

Aaron Judge Props for October 5

• To record 2+ hits: +200
• To record 3+ hits: +950
• 4+ hits: +5000
• To record an RBI: +125
• To record 2+ RBI: +430
• 3+ RBI: +1200
• To record 2+ total bases: -115
• 3+ total bases: +165
• To score a run: -135
• 2+ runs: +210

Odds are via BetOnline.

If you believe that Judge will have a big game and at least give himself a chance to capture the Triple Crown, there are a lot of great prop options to take advantage of.

The result is pretty unimportant for today’s finale, given that it won’t affect anything for either team.

But the Yankees are 33-27 (.550) following a loss this season, while the Rangers are just 26-39 (.400) following a win.

And after winning six games in a seven-start stretch in August and September, the Rangers have lost the last three games that Otto has started, all by multiple runs.

New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers Prediction and Best Bets

Yankees vs. Rangers Prediction: New York to win

Yankees vs. Rangers Best Bets: New York ML (Best Value: -115 at Bovada Sportsbook & BetMGM) & New York -1.5 (Best Value: +146 at BetOnline)