The end of Major League Baseball’s lockout paves the way for bettors to consider MLB Cy Young odds. DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook are offering odds on American and National League Cy Young winners.
One angle we like to consider in our efforts to identify potential value plays is volume. The “workhorse” starter has become somewhat of an endangered species as a result of front offices micromanaging their pitching staffs. Players with relatively long odds but a path to 180-plus innings capture our attention.
2021 winner Robbie Ray led the AL in ERA (2.84) and innings (193.1). He also paced all of baseball in strikeouts (248). Ray accomplished that pitching in the rugged AL East, and he’ll lead the Mariners’ rotation in 2022. The Brewers’ Corbin Burnes was named National League Cy Young winner on the strength of utterly dominant peripherals (2.43 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 6.88 K/BB).
Both Burnes (+750, FD) and Ray (+1000, FD) reside among 2022 Cy Young betting favorites in their respective leagues, but the pool of viable candidates is deep.
Partial lists of DraftKings’ and FanDuel’s MLB Cy Young odds are below. Bettors are always encouraged to shop around the sports betting market for the best prices for their picks.
MLB Cy Young Odds
American League
The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (+450) has been the bridesmaid, so to speak, finishing second in the voting on a pair of occasions. He possesses all the ingredients necessary to bake a Cy Young campaign in 2022, and he warrants his short price.
Bettors, however, have more profitable options to consider before plopping a wager on the AL Cy Young favorite.
| Player | Team | DraftKings AL Cy Young Odds | FanDuel AL Cy Young Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Bieber | Cleveland Guardians | +700 | +700 |
| Lucas Giolito | Chicago White Sox | +1000 | +1000 |
| Dylan Cease | Chicago White Sox | +1400 | +1800 |
| Lance McCullers Jr. | Houston Astros | +1400 | +2500 |
| Justin Verlander | Houston Astros | +1600 | +2000 |
| Shane McClanahan | Tampa Bay Rays | +1600 | +2000 |
| Kevin Gausman | Toronto Blue Jays | +1600 | +2000 |
| Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels | +1800 | +2000 |
| Frankie Montas | Oakland Athletics | +2000 | +3000 |
Cole has plenty of stiff competition to fend off. Shane Bieber took home AL Cy Young honors in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and he’s capable of piecing together another dominant showing across a full allotment of starts.
Lucas Giolito stands out as well. He has three seasons of 170-plus frames and has pitched at a high level since 2019. He’s only 27, so there could very well be another gear in his game.
As we saw in 2021, strong Cy Young candidates can emerge from the depths of preseason odds boards. Chris Sale (+6000, FD), Jose Berrios (+2000, DK), Eduardo Rodriguez (+4000, FD), and Noah Syndergaard (+6000, FD) are a few who could emerge from relative “obscurity” to deliver dominant production.
National League
The Mets’ Jacob deGrom was the oddsmakers’ favorite to win the NL Cy Young before he hit the shelf due to a shoulder injury. That perch is now occupied by fellow Met, Max Scherzer. Like Cole, Scherzer pitches under the scrutiny of the New York media (for better or worse).
| Player | Team | DraftKings NL Cy Young Odds | FanDuel NL Cy Young Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Scherzer | New York Mets | +600 | +700 |
| Walker Buehler | Los Angeles Dodgers | +800 | +950 |
| Zack Wheeler | Philadelphia Phillies | +1000 | +1000 |
| Brandon Woodruff | Milwaukee Brewers | +1000 | +1300 |
| Logan Webb | San Francisco Giants | +1400 | +1700 |
| Aaron Nola | Philadelphia Phillies | +1800 | +2500 |
| Max Fried | Atlanta Braves | +2200 | +2500 |
| Joe Musgrove | San Diego Padres | +2500 | +2500 |
| Jack Flaherty | St. Louis Cardinals | +3500 | +4000 |
Among the closest contenders, Walker Buehler earns a star next to his name. He’ll begin the season at 27, so he’s just entering his prime. He finished fourth in the Cy Young voting in 2021 and has proven capable of producing gaudy numbers over large inning totals.
Looking deeper, there’s a lot to like among some of those priced as longer shots at sportsbooks. A pair of southpaws in particular are worth strong consideration.
Blake Snell (+5000, FD) won the award in 2018 and found his stride in the second half of 2021 after adjusting to his new home in San Diego. Meanwhile, in the same division, Julio Urias (+2000, DK), who’s still only 25, compiled strong numbers across 185.2 frames. Both are quite capable of shutting down opposing lineups over lengthy strings of starts.
Also read: MLB MVP odds | MLB Rookie of the Year odds
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