The 2026 MLB Cy Young odds are live, and once again, the pitching landscape is headlined by familiar elite arms. Paul Skenes opens as the favorite to repeat in the National League after his unanimous 2025 win, while Tarik Skubal enters the year seeking his third straight AL Cy Young Award.
Unlike MVP betting, Cy Young odds often shift dramatically throughout the season, and the 2026 boards show wide-open races behind the two frontrunners. Here's a look at the Cy Young picture heading into the season.
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AL Cy Young Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tarik Skubal | +350 |
| Garrett Crochet | +425 |
| Jacob deGrom | +1300 |
| Hunter Brown | +1300 |
| Cole Ragans | +1300 |
| Max Fried | +1700 |
| Logan Gilbert | +2000 |
| Bryan Woo | +2000 |
| Framber Valdez | +2200 |
| Gavin Williams | +2500 |
| Kyle Bradish | +3000 |
| Dylan Cease | +3500 |
| Ranger Suarez | +3500 |
| Trevor Rogers | +4000 |
| Nathan Eovaldi | +4000 |
| Kevin Gausman | +4000 |
AL Cy Young Odds: Can anyone challenge Skubal?
Tarik Skubal enters 2026 as the rightful king of the odds board after two straight Cy Young wins. The Tigers' left-hander became the first AL pitcher to win consecutive Cy Youngs since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000. Best of all, his 2025 campaign waseven better than his unanimous 2024 Triple Crown season. He posted a 2.21 ERA (AL-best), struck out 241 batters, and led MLB with a minuscule 0.89 WHIP. Those are all dynamite numbers.
Skubal dominated at historic levels, recording 12 scoreless starts of at least six innings, the most in Tigers history and the most in MLB since Adam Wainwright in 2014. Simply put, he's a perfect pitcher in so many regards. The guy eats innings, racks up Ks, and limits hard contact. As long as he is on the mound, he is the Cy Young chalk. He's in territory for a 3-peat.
Garrett Crochet emerged as Skubal's biggest challenger after a dominant 2025 season with the Red Sox following his trade from the White Sox. He led the AL in strikeouts (255) and innings pitched (205.1) while posting a 2.59 ERA and an 18-5 record in his first full season as a starter. Crochet finished second in Cy Young voting with four first-place votes and represents the most serious threat to Skubal's three-peat bid.
Jacob deGrom (+1300) returns as the ultimate wild card. If healthy, the two-time Cy Young winner (2018-19) still possesses elite stuff. Hunter Brown (+1300) finished third in 2025 Cy Young voting after a breakout campaign with Houston. Cole Ragans (+1300) and Bryan Woo (+2000) round out a deep challenger pool, but Skubal remains the pitcher to beat until someone proves otherwise.
NL Cy Young Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Paul Skenes | +225 |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | +500 |
| Cristopher Sanchez | +1000 |
| Hunter Greene | +1400 |
| Chris Sale | +1400 |
| Blake Snell | +1800 |
| Logan Webb | +2000 |
| Zack Wheeler | +2000 |
| Spencer Strider | +3000 |
| Shohei Ohtani | +3000 |
| Brandon Woodruff | +3000 |
| Jesus Luzardo | +3000 |
| Freddy Peralta | +3000 |
| Jacob Misiorowski | +3000 |
| Nolan McLean | +3500 |
| Tyler Glasnow | +3500 |
NL Cy Young Odds: Skenes leads, but the field is loaded
Paul Skenes begins 2026 as the NL Cy Young favorite after an absolutely historic start to his career. The 23-year-old Pirates ace won the 2025 NL Cy Young Award unanimously, receiving all 30 first-place votes after posting a MLB-best 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts across 187.2 innings. Skenes became just the second pitcher ever to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young in consecutive seasons, matching Dwight Gooden's feat from 1984-85. I won't get too eager, but Skenes is already on track for an all-time-type career.
His 2025 season was defined by otherworldly consistency despite pitching for a last-place Pirates team that finished 91 games under .500. That hurts his stock a little bit. However, he's still a global superstar with an Internet-famous athlete girlfriend.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto sits just behind Skenes after a strong 2025 campaign that saw him finish third in Cy Young voting. The Dodgers' ace pairs elite command with upper-tier strikeout numbers and won World Series MVP after dominating in October. Cristopher Sanchez finished second in 2025 Cy Young voting after a breakout year with the Phillies, posting an 8.0 bWAR that actually led all of baseball. He's the breakout candidate who could leap into true ace status.
Chris Sale (+1400) won the 2024 NL Cy Young with Atlanta at age 35, proving he can still dominate when healthy. Shohei Ohtani (+3000) will pitch a full season for the Dodgers in 2026 after returning midseason in 2025, making him an intriguing wild card. Clearly (as I hope this breakdown made clear), the NL race is far deeper than the AL at the moment.
MLB Cy Young Award History
| Year | AL Winner | NL Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tarik Skubal | Paul Skenes |
| 2024 | Tarik Skubal | Chris Sale |
| 2023 | Gerrit Cole | Blake Snell |
| 2022 | Justin Verlander | Sandy Alcantara |
| 2021 | Robbie Ray | Corbin Burnes |
| 2020 | Shane Bieber | Trevor Bauer |
| 2019 | Justin Verlander | Jacob deGrom |
| 2018 | Blake Snell | Jacob deGrom |
Making A Cy Young Futures Bet
Betting on the MLB Cy Young Award is a form of futures betting. Early odds can offer major value if you predict a breakout season or a bounce-back from a proven ace. Cy Young winners are announced in November, leaving ample time for movement in both leagues as pitchers rise or fall. Always shop around for the best price across sportsbooks.
Skubal is attempting to join elite company. Only Greg Maddux (1992-95, four straight) and Randy Johnson (1999-2002, four straight) have won three or more consecutive Cy Young Awards. Skenes, meanwhile, could become the youngest pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs if he prevails again in 2026.
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Cy Young Odds FAQ
Can I bet on MLB Cy Young odds?
Yes, you can bet on MLB Cy Young odds. Betting on Major League Baseball’s American and National League Cy Young Award winners is not only fun, it can be pleasantly profitable when wagering on MLB’s top pitchers. Baseball commissioner Ford Frick first introduced the award back in 1956 in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who passed away in 1955.
Who has the most Cy Young awards?
Roger “Rocket” Clemens has the most Cy Young awards with seven. Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson won the Cy Young Award five times, while Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux each won the Cy Young Award four times. Clemens, Johnson, Roy Halladay, Max Scherzer, Pedro Martinez and Gaylord Perry are the only pitchers to have won the award in both leagues.
