First MLB manager fired odds: Yankees' Aaron Boone in trouble with New York last place in American League?

We have to use the cliché that it's very early, but the New York Yankees were just shockingly swept at home by the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend and are last in the American League East Division and entire Junior Circuit at 5-10. Yet, William Hill Sportsbook oddsmakers still have the Bombers as -160 favorites in the division, +250 favorites to capture the pennant and +600 second-favorites behind the Dodgers to win the World Series. SportsLine oddsmakers, meanwhile, now list the Yankees' Aaron Boone among the favorites to be the first MLB manager fired.

The Yankees totaled just 11 hits in the weekend sweep at the hands of the defending division and AL champion Rays. "Bad series. It's just got to get better. Period," Boone said. "We're getting punched in the mouth right now. You've got to work. You've got to grind your way through it."

None of the big boppers on the Bombers are hitting right now. Aaron Judge has just four hits in his past 28 at-bats. Giancarlo Stanton has three hits in his past 26 and is batting .176 overall. Clint Frazier is 1 for his last 24 and does not have an RBI in 40 plate appearances this season. Aaron Hicks is batting .160.

Jay Bruce was at .118 before retiring on Sunday. A non-roster invitee this spring, Bruce won a spot on the Opening Day roster following an injury to first baseman Luke Voit – the reigning MLB home-run champion remains out from left meniscus surgery and will not return until late May.

The Yankees' team batting average of .210 is their lowest through 15 games since 1968. Their team OPS of .642 is their worst through 15 games since 1973 and their 139 batter strikeouts their most ever.

Is Boone in immediate danger? Almost certainly not despite a lot of chatter on social media – although if the late George Steinbrenner were alive, perhaps. New York has reached the playoffs in each of Boone's first three seasons but yet to advance past the ALDS.

Still, it is the most games into a season the Yankees have had the AL's worst record since starting 9-17 in 1991. The 1997 Yankees started 5-10 as well and finished 96-66. That said, a total of 62 teams started a season exactly 5-10 since 1996 through 2019 (not including the shortened 2020 campaign) and the average finishing record for those clubs was 73-89.

The Yankees, who haven't finished with a losing record since 1992, are off Monday and start a home series vs. Atlanta on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Dodgers and Royals are the only two teams yet to lose a series so far.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Favorites to be first MLB manager fired

• Bud Black +250
• Torey Lovullo +400
• Aaron Boone +500
• Chris Woodward +700
• Brandon Hyde +900
• Dave Martinez +1000

Who wins the 2021 Kentucky Derby? And which massive long shot is a must-back? Join SportsLine right now to get Jody Demling's Kentucky Derby winner, see which huge long shot contends, and get the finish positions for every single horse, all from the expert who's nailed nine Derby-Oaks doubles!