Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton co-favored for MLB home-run title despite yet another injury

There's no question that the New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton is one of the pre-eminent sluggers of his generation. In 2017 while with the Florida Marlins, he had one of the great power seasons in Major League Baseball history with a career-high 59 home runs along with a slugging percentage of .631 and an OPS of 1.007. The Marlins dealt him to the Yankees following that year.

The problem with the 31-year-old is that his 6-foot-6, 250-pound body just doesn't seem made for baseball as he can't stay on the field. Stanton has played more than 140 games a scant four times, was limited to just 18 regular-season games in 2019 and wouldn't have been close to ready for the original Opening Day in March this year due to a strained calf suffered in spring training.

In fact, Stanton isn't even a sure thing as of right now to be 100 percent for the Yankees' new season opener July 23 at the Washington Nationals, although he probably will be healthy enough to be able to play designated hitter.

That the Yankees will have the DH for every single game in the shortened 60-game season should help Stanton some, and he's a +1200 co-favorite on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook to lead the majors in homers for the second time. Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger, Joey Gallo, Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso are the same price.

Stanton apparently will not be one of the MLB guys to opt out of the season as GM Brian Cashman said this week that no Yankees have indicated they're planning to do so: "The crew is all in at this stage."

How many homers will it take to win the MLB title in a 60-game season (if it goes that long)? When Stanton his 59 in 159 games in 2017, that equates to a shade over 22 for 60 games. Stanton has averaged 13.81 at-bats per home run in his career, which is fifth-best in MLB history (minimum 3000 plate appearances). Mark McGwire leads at 10.61.

The only team Stanton hasn't gone yard against? The Marlins. New York will play them this season, with the schedule likely out sometime this week. 

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