Updated 2024 MLB Cy Young Odds Entering June
Looking at the updated Cy Young odds, left-handers reign supreme, with Tarik Skubal, Shota Imanaga and Ranger Suarez all being favorites.
We’re only two months into the 2024 MLB season, but it’s already clear that there won’t be repeat Cy Young Award winners in either league.
Last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole has yet to pitch in 2024, as elbow nerve inflammation and swelling has sidelined him since Spring Training. Cole is currently progressing as he attempts to rejoin a New York Yankees team that has the best record in the AL.
Meanwhile, despite winning the NL Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres last year — after previously winning the AL honor in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays — Blake Snell had to wait until mid-March to sign a two-year, $62 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.
The lack of a Spring Training appears to have hurt Snell, who has already missed time with a left abductor strain and has an unsightly 10.42 ERA after five starts with the Giants.
As we search for who will succeed Cole and Snell as Cy Young Award winners, here are the latest odds from BetMGM.
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AL Cy Young Odds
- Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: +225
- Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles: +400
- Tanner Houck, Boston Red Sox: +1100
- Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals: +1200
- Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners: +1200
- Seth Lugo, Royals: +1600
Skubal has picked up where he left off a year ago, when he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball after July 4. His 0.850 WHIP is the best mark among AL pitchers, while he’s second in FIP (2.14) and fWAR (2.1).
Burnes is looking to become the eighth pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, joining the aforementioned Snell, Max Scherzer, Roy Halladay, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Gaylord Perry. It would also go a long way in helping him to get $300+ million when he become a free agent after the season.
Houck has been one of the most surprising developments of the 2024 season. A year after posting a 5.18 ERA and 4.43 FIP over 106 innings, he’s pitching at an All-Star level for the Red Sox. Houck’s 2.13 FIP is the best mark among AL pitchers, while he leads MLB in HR/9 (0.1) and fWAR (2.5).
A pair of Royals teammates, Ragans and Lugo, are in the running as well. Acquired last summer from the Texas Rangers for Aroldis Chapman, Ragans has a 3.34 ERA and 2.37 FIP over 11 starts this season. Meanwhile, Lugo was signed to a three-year, $45 million deal in the winter, and currently leads baseball in innings pitched (72 1/3), while topping the junior circuit in terms of ERA (1.74) and ERA+ (237).
Finally, Castillo is one of the frontline arms in Seattle, who have one of the best rotations in the sport. The three-time All-Star finished fifth in AL Cy Young Award voting a season ago, and currently has a 3.31 ERA this year.
NL Cy Young Odds
- Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies: +340
- Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs: +425
- Ranger Suárez, Phillies: +450
- Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves: +600
- Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles Dodgers: +750
- Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres: +1600
The Phillies have the best record in baseball right now, and their excellent starting rotation is a major reason why.
Wheeler — who finished runner-up to the aforementioned Burnes in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2021 — continues to combine power pitching with length for the Phillies. Among NL pitchers, he’s currently in the top five in innings pitched (67 2/3), strikeouts (76) and fWAR (1.9). He wouldn’t win the Cy Young Award if it was given out today, but it’s fair to believe he might have the most staying power of anyone on the NL list.
Suárez, meanwhile, has gone from being a very good No. 3 starter behind Wheeler and Aaron Nola to an ace in his own right. His nine wins are the most of any starting pitcher, and his 0.819 FIP is also the top mark in the sport.
It’s interesting to contrast Wheeler and Suárez, both of whom have already logged over 67 innings, with Imanaga, who has thrown 53 2/3. Imanaga has been dominant when he’s been on the mound, though, with a 5-0 record, 0.84 ERA and staggering 493 ERA+.
He’ll have to take on a heavier workload as the season goes along to hang in the Cy Young race, but the 30-year-old can lean on the fact that in his first season since coming over from Japan he’s probably going to run away with NL Rookie of the Year.
Healthy for the first time in close to half a decade, Sale has been tremendous for the Braves so far this season. The seven-time All-Star leads baseball with a 2.10 FIP, while having the top senior circuit pitching marks in terms of BB/9 (1.3), strikeout-to-walk-ratio (8.67) and fWAR (2.2). Staying healthy will be the biggest test, but he’ll certainly have the narrative on his side if he’s able to have a career resurgence in Spencer Strider’s absence.
Speaking of pitchers with injury histories who have managed to stay healthy so far in 2024, Glasnow has been tremendous in his first season with the Dodgers. The former Ray leads baseball with 87 strikeouts, and is second among NL pitchers in FIP (2.45).
Lastly, Cease, traded late in Spring Training, has hit the ground running with the Padres. Two years after finishing runner-up in the AL Cy Young Award race as a member of the Chicago White Sox, Cease has a 3.29 ERA, 2.77 FIP and 0.959 WHIP to show for his first 11 starts in San Diego.
Written by
Tim Kelly is a contributor to Just Baseball. Tim has been on the Philadelphia Phillies beat since 2020, serving as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Additionally,…