2025 MLB betting: Nick Kurtz now a massive favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year
The betting market has taken notice as well.
Kurtz opened up far down the odds board to win American League Rookie of the Year at BetMGM with 80-1 odds. New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez opened as the favorite at +600. It wasn't all smooth sailing for Kurtz, as Yahoo's Jordan Shusterman detailed in this article, as he went through and 0-for-21 skid in May before breaking out and becoming the best hitter in baseball in July.
On June 14, Kurtz was down to 14-1 odds (tied for the second-best odds), but still a massive underdog to his Athletics teammate Jacob Wilson, who was -1000 to win the AL ROY. That equates to roughly a 90.9% chance to win the award.
Even five days ago on July 21, Wilson was the +100 favorite at BetMGM and Kurtz was second at +160. Wilson had second-most wagers (11%, behind the Royals' Jac Caglionone) and by far the most money of any player at 33%. Wilson also represented the sportsbook's biggest liability on the award.
But after Friday night's offensive explosion, Kurtz became the odds-on favorite for the first time all season and now has -2000 odds to win, an implied probability of 95% to win the award.
It's an astonishing baseball — and betting — story, and one we'll be sure to follow throughout the rest of the season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How could the Harper-Manfred spat impact MLB's CBA talks?
Yahoo Sports senior MLB analysts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman explain why the battle between the players union and the league - which reportedly came to a head in the Phillies star and commissioner's recent clubhouse meeting - may only get more contentious before a new deal is reached. Hear the full conversation on the 'Baseball Bar-B-Cast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript How important is this story? Like, what type of impact does it have? Let's start with the cap as a character, because the cap is going to be the most important discussion point in the upcoming CBA negotiations, almost certainly. I think that it is important to understand the historical context here where players are just not gonna go for a cap. The league has been trying to get one for years. It is the only league that does not have one. It is going to be a central character here. That sets up the dynamic of how these negotiations are going to go. In the last round, the union was on offense and the league was on defense. And in this round, I think those roles are gonna switch a little bit, where the league wants to create change in the system, and the players are more content. With the status quo, then the league is. Now, obviously, the two sides are both trying to pull the situation, the CBA in their general respective directions, but I think that that is just a fair way to classify how this relationship is going to be. For the league to be like, we need to energize the workforce is, is like both fascin. and almost backwards, right? Because in theory, so much about this is the union sticking together and the union being on the same page. And so it is one hell of a tactic to be like, no, no, no, we're just going to jump over the union and try and convince them that they want what we want. Now, Manfred can say this is not my intention, all he wants. The outcome is to foster a level of discord and disagreement within the union about the cap. In theory, where the league can make headway is by convincing the lower salaried rank and file players that a salary cap and a floor would be good for them because they would then make more money. But like, that's what the union is fighting against, is keeping everyone on the same page, everyone together, advocating and arguing for the same things. The general energy. Right now is no bueno, like, it's ugly and it's going to get uglier. Do we lose games? Ask me in a year and a half. Ask me on March 15, 2027. Close
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2 Indiana basketball players injured ahead of games in Puerto Rico. What we know
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball guard Jason Drake and forward Nick Dorn could be sidelined for the program's upcoming trip to Puerto Rico. The Hoosiers leave Monday for their foreign tour that will include three exhibition games including a pair of games against Mega Superbet, a Serbian professional club. Drake and Dorn are dealing with undisclosed injuries that sidelined them during Wednesday's practice and there isn't an exact timeline for their return. IU coach Darian DeVries told reporters after practice that's possible Dorn could miss time this fall. Dorn had a standout sophomore season at Elon last year where he was one of six Division I players to average at least 15.0 points per game, make 70 3-pointers, and make 90 free throws while playing less than 1,000 minutes. He averaged 15.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game last season. He's made 47 career starts over two seasons and earned CAA All-Rookie honors as a freshman. Drake landed in Bloomington after a series of one-year stops at Cleveland State, Butler Community College and Drexel. Last season, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while starting all 33 games for Drexel. This story will be updated. Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter. Indiana Hoosiers podcast: Mind Your Banners on IU football as camp opens This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU basketball injury update: Will Nick Dorn, Jason Drake play Puerto Rico games
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN as a commentator on 'First Take'
Shannon Sharpe will not be returning to ESPN, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who is not authorized to publicly discuss it. The development comes weeks after the former NFL star settled a $50-million lawsuit that accused him of rape. Attorney Tony Buzbee, whose firm represented the woman who filed the civil lawsuit against Sharpe earlier this year, announced the settlement on July 18 in a statement posted on Instagram. Sharpe's legal team said at the time that Buzbee's statement should be considered the 'final word' on the matter. Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. Read more: Shannon Sharpe settles $50 million lawsuit with woman who accused him of rape The lawsuit was filed on April 20 in Clark County in Nevada. Sharpe's accuser sought damages for claims of assault, sexual assault, battery, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress after multiple alleged non-consensual sexual encounters in her Las Vegas apartment between October and January. The sports media personality has denied the allegations. He announced days after the lawsuit was filed that he was temporarily stepping away from his duties as a commentator on ESPN's 'First Take' but would return in time for the 2025 NFL season. At that time, an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement emailed to The Times that 'this is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon's decision to step away.' Sharpe has remained on his popular podcasts 'Club Shay Shay' and 'Nightcap.' The Athletic was the first to report that Sharpe won't be returning to ESPN. The network declined to comment for this article. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
