MLB Cy Young Odds & Predictions 2026: Skubal, Skenes, and the Battle for Pitching Immortality

The MLB Cy Young Award is the honor given annually to the best pitcher in both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). Established in 1956, it is named after Hall of Famer Denton True "Cy" Young, who holds the major league record for most career wins.

The Cy Young Award is specifically designed to recognize pitching excellence.

Let's see the top favorites and their odds for the 2026 MLB season.

MLB Cy Young Award 2026 Odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Use our promo code WSNSPORTS and claim your welcome offer at BetMGM: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

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AL Cy Young Award Odds

NL Cy Young Award Odds

MLB Cy Young Winner - My Picks

AL Cy Young Winner - Tarik Skubal (+300) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Tarik Skubal enters the season looking to become the first American League pitcher since Pedro Martínez (1999–2000) to win three consecutive Cy Youngs.

Coming off a dominant 2025 campaign where he posted a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts, Skubal remains the betting favorite at +300 odds, largely due to a "Clayton Kershaw-esque" foundation of elite command and a 32.2% strikeout rate. While Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet - who led the majors in strikeouts last year - is his primary challenger, Skubal’s proven durability and historic multi-year run of dominance make him the gold standard for pitching in the American League.

Analysts noted that even with persistent trade rumors as he enters his final year of team control, his statistical profile is so consistent that he remains the clear "SP1" for both Cy Young voters.

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NL Cy Young Winner - Paul Skenes (+240) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Paul Skenes looks to become the first National League pitcher to repeat since Jacob deGrom. Following a unanimous victory in 2025 where he posted a staggering 1.97 ERA and 7.6 bWAR, Skenes has cemented himself as the game's most dominant starter, backed by a "Baseball Savant" page that ranks in the top percentiles for nearly every metric.

While Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto - the reigning World Series MVP - and a healthy Spencer Strider are his most formidable challengers, Skenes’ ability to maintain sub-2.00 ERA peripherals despite a lackluster Pirates win-loss record has proven that his individual dominance is currently unmatched.

With Pittsburgh adding veteran bats like Marcell Ozuna to bolster his run support, Skenes is positioned to further separate himself from the field as he approaches his age-24 season.

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How to Bet on the MLB Cy Young Winner

The Cy Young award market is one of the more volatile betting markets in the sport as one successful or poor outing can drastically shake up the oddsboard. In order to be successful and make a profit betting on the award, you need to build a diverse portfolio and place wagers on pitchers who are in a position to strengthen their claim for the award before doing so.

Whether that is throwing some darts on some long shots before the season starts and hedging out them when a favorite gets off to a hot start, or vice versa, you will need to consistently keep an eye on the market to take advantage of the best possible odds. In Tarik Skubal’s case, place a wager on him now and look to create multiple outs as the season progresses.

How to Read MLB Cy Young Odds

When placing any sort of wager, it’s important to understand how the listed odds work. If you bet on Tarik Skubal to win the Cy Young award at his preseason odds of +450, then a $100 wager would profit you $100 if he wins the award.

If you wait to see if he gets off to a hot start and is listed with a minus sign in front of his odds (-125 for example), then you would need to wager $125 to win $100. Placing wagers at the best available odds will help you churn a profit over the long run, making it vital you consistently check the market for potential hedge opportunities.

Where to Bet on the MLB Cy Young Winner

BetMGM Sportsbook has been one of the better apps to use when betting on the Cy Young award, as they usually beat out the rest of the apps in terms of best available odds. If you do not already have an account with BetMGM, you can use our promo code WSNSPORTS and claim the following offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

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MLB Cy Young AL & NL MVP Winner History

Last season was a rare moment of consensus in baseball, as both winners dominated their respective leagues with historic efficiency.

Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers) captured his second consecutive AL Cy Young. He led the league with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts, proving that his 2024 breakout was no fluke.

Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates) became the first NL pitcher since 2022 to win the award unanimously. In just his second season, Skenes posted a major-league-best 1.96 ERA, essentially "breaking" the traditional learning curve for young starters.

All eyes are on Tarik Skubal to see if he can join the elite club of pitchers (like Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson) who have won three Cy Youngs in a row. Meanwhile, in the National League, a healthy Spencer Strider is returning from surgery to challenge Skenes' throne.

AL Cy Young Award Winners

NL Cy Young Award Winners