Odds and Bets: White Sox Luis Robert Jr. the Big Bat at Home Run Derby

Home Run Derby: Not Vladdy Jr.’s Year

Monday night sees the Home Run Derby competition ahead of Tuesday’s Midsummer classic. There are four brackets featuring height hitters in total. Understandably most eyes north of the 49^th parallel will be riveted on Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He’ll be pitted against Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts. The latter has smashed 26 dingers already.

While the invitation extended to Vladdy is nice to see, the reality is he’s not having his best season. There is a sense that he’s presence has more to do with honouring the past couple of seasons than what he’s accomplished in 2023. Unless he has a belter of a second half to the season, he won’t even come close to matching his tally of 32 home runs from 2022. Chicago White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. will be the sleeper hit in this year’s edition. Or rather, the sleeper hitter. See what we did there?

 Best Bet: Luis Robert Jr. to Win the Home Run Derby

Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic Marches On

The ATP’s Grand Slam Wimbledon tournament is in full swing since last week. Of couse Novak Djokovic is the man to watch and beat at this year’s event, just as he is typically the player to watch and beat at every tournament for the past few years.

In an unusual twist, his match against Hubert Hurkacz started well, with the Serb winning the first two sets. Because the previous match lasted so long, the Djokovic-Hurkacz game began at 8:50 pm. Furthermore, both sets went the distance (7-6). As such, and because Wimbledon rules dictate that no match shall extend past 11 pm, their contest will have to be completed on Monday. Barring an unbelievable implosion, Djokovic will go through. In fact, he plays so well in these majors, he feels like a shoe in to at least reach the finals, save an unexpected injury or anything to that effect.

Best Bet: Novak Djokovic Reaches the Wimbledon Final. Check out ATP odds.

Chicago Fire vs CF Montreal: Chicago and Montreal Share the Spoils

Just as MLB is having its All-Star festivities this week, MLS’ is soon to follow. That league’s special night, in which the best players band together to play English Premier League club Arsenal, is on July 19. But before then there is still some league action to deal with. In fact, MLS does battle again in the middle of the week, with an entire slate of contests on Wednesday.

One of particular interest to Canadian club fans is CF Montreal visiting Chicago Fire. Montreal is in a predicament at the moment. For a long time this season they could depend on Stade Saputo being a fort to collect points while keeping their heads above water on the road. That ended the last two weeks, with 1-0 defeats to NYCFC and more recently Atlanta United FC. Now the club travels to Chicago to play a Fire team that is anything but this year. Both Chicago and Montreal are deadlocked with 26 points, fighting for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Best Bet: Chicago Fire and CF Montreal Play a Draw