This year’s AL Cy Young award race will look a lot different than last year’s. With Justin Verlander going to a National League team in the offseason, this season’s race will not feature the pitcher who won the award last year. Here, we will look at the current favorites to win the Cy Young in the American League, and we will make our MLB betting picks for this year’s award.
2023 AL Cy Young Award Odds
| Player |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| deGrom | +550 | +8000 | +6000 | +10000 | +8000 |
| Cole | +600 | +500 | +400 | +400 | +550 |
| Manoah | +900 | +20000 | +10000 | +15000 | +20000 |
| Rodon | +900 | +15000 | +15000 | +15000 | +15000 |
| Cease | +900 | +15000 | +8000 | +10000 | +20000 |
| Javier | +1200 | +6600 | +8000 | +7500 | |
| Bieber | +1200 | +10000 | +5000 | +6000 | +10000 |
| McClanahan | +1200 | +300 | +325 | +350 | +310 |
| Ohtani | +1200 | +900 | +850 | +900 | +900 |
| Gausman | +1600 | +1000 | +1000 | +900 | +1100 |
| Castillo | +1600 | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Javier | +2000 | +8000 | |||
| Valdez | +2000 | +750 | +800 | +800 | +750 |
| Gilbert | +2000 | +8000 | +6000 | +9000 | +8000 |
| McKenzie | +2200 | +15000 | +20000 | +13000 | +20000 |
| Glasnow | +3000 | +15000 | +13000 | +15000 | |
| Giolito | +3300 | +12500 | +10000 | +10000 | +12000 |
| Kirby | +3500 | +2500 | +1600 | +1800 | +2500 |
| Brown | +3500 | +6600 | +9000 | +6500 | |
| Cortes | +4000 | +20000 | +10000 | +15000 | +20000 |
AL CY YOUNG HANDICAPPING
Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
Gerrit Cole struck out more batters than any other pitcher in Major League Baseball this past season, striking out 257 hitters. But he went just 13-8 last season, and was not the top finisher on his own team in the Cy Young voting. In 2023, though, he has been even better both in terms of his individual numbers and the fact that the New York Yankees are winning in the games he has started. He has solidified himself as the early season favorite to win this award, and justifiably so.
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
The betting public will likely love Shohei Ohtani in this year’s Cy Young award race, and that is understandable. He finished top-10 in the league in ERA and strikeouts last year, while also playing the outfield when he wasn’t pitching. Somehow, he has been just as good so far in 2023, if not better. If he can keep that up, without his duties as a position player getting in the way, Ohtani could claim this pitcher-specific honor.
Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays
Shane McClanahan has been a huge reason for the historically great start that the Tampa Bay Rays have enjoyed this spring. He won five of his first six starts and has not looked back for a Rays team that is ahead of teams like the Blue Jays and Yankees that were expected to win the AL East this season. McClanahan could easily win this award so long as he does not suffer any regression anytime soon.
Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
The preseason favorite to win the AL Cy Young award was Jacob deGrom, but an early season IL stint has negatively impacted his chances to win the award. When he has been on the mound so far this season, deGrom has performed admirably. But his health will be a concern going forward this season as he will not be able to afford to miss more time if he wants to rack up the numbers needed to go toe to toe with the other big names in the American League.
Who Wins the AL Cy Young Award?
Right now, the AL Cy Young award feels like a three-horse race between Cole, Ohtani, and McClanahan. McClanahan is the least appealing of those three options to the betting public, but we like him to get the job done. His consistency, combined with the insane amount of winning that the Rays have been doing, will keep him at the forefront of this award where he will stay.
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