MLB Cy Young Odds & Predictions 2026: 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

We are listing the odds for the AL and NL Cy Young Award in the tables below, courtesy of the best US sportsbooks in the market today.

AL Cy Young Award Odds

NL Cy Young Award Odds

Have a look at our curated selection of the best MLB betting sites and grab the latest MLB promo codes and bonuses.

MLB Cy Young Winner - My Picks

Here are my definitive picks for the dominant arms poised to overwhelm the opposition and claim baseball’s ultimate pitching prize in 2026.

AL Cy Young Winner - Cam Schlittler (+170) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Cam Schlittler is a strong candidate for the 2026 AL Cy Young award due to his exceptional statistical performance early in the season. Through his first nine starts, the Yankees pitcher has recorded a 1.35 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts, demonstrating consistent control and efficient run prevention.

Furthermore, his traditional statistics are heavily supported by advanced metrics; he currently leads the American League in pitching fWAR and maintains a low FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), indicating that his success is sustainable rather than the result of defensive luck or positive variance.

These underlying analytics, combined with his elite surface-level production, position him as a highly logical and statistically sound favorite for the award.

Claim Your Welcome Offer at DraftKings

NL Cy Young Winner - Cristopher Sanchez (+135) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Cristopher Sánchez is an early candidate for the 2026 NL Cy Young Award thanks to a historic start to his season that builds perfectly upon his spectacular runner-up finish last year. Through his first 11 starts, the Philadelphia Phillies ace has been practically unhittable, boasting a sensational 1.62 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 86 strikeouts across 72.1 innings.

His sheer dominance was highlighted in May when he strung together a stunning 37.2-inning scoreless streak, the second-longest in franchise history, which included a brilliant 13-strikeout complete-game shutout against the Pirates.

By pairing his devastating, high-whiff changeup with elite command of his sinker, Sánchez has transformed into a bona fide workhorse, and his elite combination of run prevention, strikeout ability, and durability currently has him positioned at the top of the early Cy Young polls.

Use BetMGM Bonus Code WSNSPORTS

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

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

As for the official betting partner of the MLB, FanDuel Sportsbook is giving an opportunity to new users to claim: Get $350 in Bonus Bets When You Bet $5 for 7 Days. No specific FanDuel promo code is required to take advantage of this offer; you just need to create an account and win your first wager of at least $5 on any valid FanDuel market.

Caesars Sportsbook offers a highly practical and structured platform for placing MLB Cy Young futures wagers. The sportsbook consistently provides competitive and regularly updated odds, allowing bettors to accurately evaluate traditional favorites and emerging contenders throughout the season. Users who join by applying our Caesars Sportsbook promo code WSNDYW will get the following welcome offer: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings 10x.

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 BetMGM bonus code WSNSPORTS and claim the following offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.