The 2018 Home Run Derby will take place this coming Monday, July 16, from Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. Last night (July 11), MLB officials released the field of competitors, along with the bracket matchups. Vegas oddsmakers have also chimed in on which players are favored to make it to the final rounds and which player is favored to walk away with the 2018 MLB Home Run Derby trophy.

Hometown favorite

With the 2018 All-Star game being held in D.C., it is no surprise that all eyes will be on Washington’s Bryce Harper, who hinted at joining the New York Yankees. With Harper already being dubbed the hottest free agent to hit the market this fall, fans may have mixed emotions when the left-handed slugger steps to the plate during the three-day All-Star extravaganza.

Nats fans don’t want Harper to leave, but it is looking like the Las Vegas native is bound to test the open market following the 2018 season. Speaking of Vegas, CBS Sports indicates that almost every sportsbook on the strip has Harper listed as the heavy favorite to win the derby Monday evening.

Odds for each player, prediction

CBS Sports is reporting that Bovada sportsbook has Harper listed as the 11-4 favorite, followed by Milwaukee’s Jesus Aguilar at 7-2. If you think any other player, outside of Harper and Aguilar, can pull off the win, you may want to put a few bucks on them because the odds are much better. Especially if you like my sleeper pick - Freddie Freeman.

Freeman will have his work cut out for him right from the get-go, as he will face Harper in the very first round.

If Freeman can get by Harper in round one, I believe he will advance to the finals and take home the trophy.

The winner of the Harper/Freeman matchup will face the winner of the battle between Max Muncy and Javier Baez.

MLB.com tweeted out the official Home Run Derby bracket last night, and fans reactions were very mixed - to say the least.

While players are not forced to participate in the derby, many fans were disappointed in the fact that Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton would not be in the big event. Especially since Stanton won the event in 2016 and Judge is the defending champion.

Nevertheless, the 2018 MLB Home Run Derby will still be must-see TV for any and all baseball fans.

Below is a look at the matchups and odds for the 32nd annual MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby.

  • Max Muncy, 5-1
  • Freddie Freeman, 11-2
  • Rhys Hoskins, 11-2
  • Javier Baez, 6-1
  • Alex Bregman, 9-1
  • Kyle Schwarber, 9-1

Matchups

  • No. 1 Jesus Aguilar vs. No. 8 Rhys Hoskins
  • No. 4 Alex Bregman vs. No. 5 Kyle Schwarber
  • No. 3 Max Muncy vs. No. 6 Javier Baez
  • No. 2 Bryce Harper vs. No. 7 Freddie Freeman