As the MLB season moves out of the All-Star break, this is a look at the updated odds to win both the National League and American League Cy Young awards.
NL Cy Young Odds
The National League Cy Young race looks like a two-man race between Zack Wheeler and Paul Skenes. Wheeler is a veteran, in his 12th MLB season and pitching better than ever. Meanwhile, Skenes is the young phenom taking the MLB by storm. Skenes is just 23 years old and would join Clayton Kershaw as the youngest Cy Young winners of the 21st century if he ends up taking the award. On the other side of the coin, Wheeler would become just the 10th pitcher this century to win the award at 35 or older. Wheeler currently leads the National League in strikeouts, but Skenes leads the MLB in ERA. It should be a great battle between these two to win the NL Cy Young award.
After the two favorites, there is a big drop-off to Cristopher Sanchez at 20/1. Sanchez is flying under the radar because he is a teammate of Wheeler’s, but he ranks in the top seven in the MLB in both strikeouts and ERA this season. After Sanchez, it is Logan Webb at 30/1, who ranks second in the NL in strikeouts. Despite these pitchers having great seasons, it seems like a two-horse race between Paul Skenes and Zack Wheeler.
AL Cy Young Odds
On the American League side, Tarik Skubal is in control, but the race goes deeper than two pitchers. Skubal won the 2024 AL Cy Young award in his breakout season and is looking to make it back-to-back Cy Young seasons. As of the All-Star break, Skubal’s ERA, SO/9, BB/9 and H/9 are all better than they were last season, plus he has a complete game shutout, something he didn’t do last season. His SO/BB, SO/9, BB/9 and WHIP are all the best marks in Major League Baseball this season. On paper, Skubal is having an even better season than his 2024 Cy Young campaign, putting him in a prime position to win it again.
However, there is some good competition keeping up with Skubal. Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox is his closest competition. Crochet is tied with Skubal for the AL lead in ERA and ranks second in SO/9 behind Skubal. If Skubal slips just a bit and Crochet keeps up his pace, he could snatch the award away. Jacob deGrom is having a return to form, mainly because he has been able to stay healthy. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has turned back the clock, ranking fourth in the AL in K/BB and third in ERA. Hunter Brown of the Astros is also a real threat in the race, ranking fourth in the AL in ERA and third in strikeouts.
