Despite some solid first-half performances from National League hurlers, the race for the Cy Young Award is wide open. A couple of first-time All-Stars headline the list, while a future Hall of Famer makes a case to earn even more hardware.
Below we will use DraftKings Sportsbook to provide current World Series odds.
Favorites
Zac Gallen (ARI) +200
Spencer Strider (ATL) +300
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) +400
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen is the slight favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award headed into the second half of the season. The first-time All-Star has an MLB-leading 11 wins and posted a 3.04 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 19 starts. Gallen is the ace on a Diamondbacks team that continues to exceed expectations this year.
Spencer Strider is nipping at Gallen’s heels regarding the NL Cy Young. He posted a 3.44 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 18 starts during the first half. However, the 24-year-old punched out a ludicrous 166 batters in 104.2 innings. Strider’s ERA remains inflated, considering he posted a 2.67 earned run average in 2022.
At 35 years old, Clayton Kershaw has a real chance to earn his fourth National League Cy Young Award in his already Hall of Fame career. The lefty is 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 16 starts. However, he is currently on the shelf with a shoulder injury. There is no timetable for his return. Unfortunately, if Kershaw is to miss a large chunk of the season, that could keep him out of the NL Cy Young race regardless of his numbers.
Longshots
Blake Snell (SD) +950
Logan Webb (SF) +1500
Marcus Stroman/Justin Steele (CHC) +1700
Blake Snell is one of if not the hottest players in baseball. The lefty is 5-1 with a 0.68 ERA in his last nine starts. Opponents are hitting just .155 off Snell during that span. He has also struck out 84 hitters in his previous 53 innings. If Snell continues this torrid pace, he could quickly leapfrog everyone and take home the NL Cy Young Award.
Logan Webb is the fourth National League West pitcher to make this list. The 26-year-old is 8-7 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 19 starts. He ended the first half with a bang, tossing a complete game shutout against the Colorado Rockies.
A duo of Chicago Cubs pitchers rounds out the longshots for the NL Cy Young Award. Stroman is 9-6 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 19 starts, while Justin Steele is 9-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 16 starts. Both hurlers made the All-Star game. There is a good chance Stroman gets dealt at the deadline, and if he stays in the National League, he could increase his Cy Young odds on a winning team.
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