Posted on 7/27/2007 2:32:22 PM

MLB Prop Odds - Rookie of the Year Betting Lines

By Hunter Kesey

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Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun and Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence were the co-favorites to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award a week ago, but a poor break for Pence has moved Braun into the lead for that accolade in the BetUS sportsbook’s prop baseball betting lines.

And that’s a poor break, literally. Pence was diagnosed with a chip fracture in his wrist and placed on the disabled list on Tuesday. Houston will now be without the youngster’s services for the next 4-6 weeks. Pence was hitting a stellar .330 before getting injured, with 12 home runs, 45 RBI, and 42 runs. He’ll try to pad those huge stats in September.

However, it might be too late by then. Braun hit his 15th home run in just his 50th major league game this week, and drew comparisons to the early-career accomplishments of Albert Pujols in the process. Playing on a nightly basis for a contending Brewers club helps his award chances as well, which is why he’s now listed as the ROY frontrunner:

Odds To Win NL Rookie of the Year

Ryan Braun +110

Hunter Pence +150

Troy Tulowitzki +450

Josh Hamilton +500

Henry Owens +500

The Field +500

And here are the stats for each of those five players heading into play on Thursday . . .

Ryan Braun --- .348, 16 home runs, 43 RBI, 44 runs

Hunter Pence --- .330, 12 home runs, 45 RBI, 42 runs

Troy Tulowitzki --- .282, 11 home runs, 44 RBI, 57 runs

Josh Hamilton --- .279, 14 home runs, 30 RBI, 37 runs

Henry Owens --- 2-0, 1.96 ERA, 16 strikeouts, 4 saves

Tulowitzki remains a viable candidate for the award, but he’ll need to close that batting average gap. Hamilton has been out since early July with a wrist injury, and he could still be a week or more away from returning. Owens impressed out of the Marlins’ bullpen earlier this year, but he’s been on the disabled list with a sore shoulder since the start of June. As for The Field, Dodgers first baseman James Loney has a high average but limited power numbers in limited games. As well, Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young has impressed with his speed/power combo, but he has an average below .240.

As for the American League, Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was the odds-on favorite for the award before the season began, and he’s got the top odds to take the honor right now as well. Dice-K dominated the Cleveland Indians in his last outing, throwing seven shutout innings while allowing only four hits and striking out five batters. MLB odds makers at BetUS have Matsuzaka as the -120 fave. Here are the other ROY baseball odds:

Odds To Win AL Rookie of the Year

Daisuke Matsuzaka -120

Hideki Okajima +300

Delmon Young +400

Jeremy Guthrie +700

Dustin Pedroia +850

Alex Gordon +1500

The Field +500

And here are the stats for each of those six players heading into play on Thursday . . .

Daisuke Matsuzaka --- 12-7, 3.79 ERA, 136 strikeouts

Hideki Okajima --- 2-0, 0.91 ERA, 42 strikeouts, 4 saves

Delmon Young --- .294, 9 home runs, 52 RBI, 45 runs

Jeremy Guthrie --- 6-3, 2.88 ERA, 84 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia --- .319, 4 home runs, 30 RBI, 40 runs

Okajima has been extremely effective out of the Red Sox bullpen this season, but he’s unlikely to pull votes away from his teammate. Guthrie actually has a much better ERA than Matsuzaka for the Baltimore Orioles right now, but half the wins. Young and Pedroia are the top hitter candidates, and a recent surge at the plate by Young has him back as a ROY contender. Gordon was hyped coming into the season, but struggled early and is just starting to get on track. As for The Field, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Reggie Willits and Detroit Tigers pitcher Andrew Miller are just out of the award picture.

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