MLB Cy Young Odds: Can Anyone Beat Skubal?

Now I have all the updated information. Let me create the updated Cy Young odds article with the new odds and latest 2025 season information:

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 2026 MLB season.

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AL Cy Young Odds

AL Cy Young Odds: Can anyone challenge Skubal?

Tarik Skubal enters 2026 as the deserved favorite after winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025. The Tigers' left-hander became the first AL pitcher to win consecutive Cy Youngs since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000. Skubal's 2025 campaign was arguably even 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 microscopic 0.89 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .200 batting average.

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. His changeup rated as MLB's most dominant pitch by run value (+25), and he struck out 32.2% of opposing batters. With one year remaining until free agency, Skubal will be looking to join Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers to win three consecutive Cy Young Awards.

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 returns as the ultimate wild card; if healthy, the two-time Cy Young winner (2018-19) still possesses elite stuff. Hunter Brown finished third in 2025 Cy Young voting after a breakout campaign with Houston. Cole Ragans and Bryan Woo round out a deep challenger pool, but Skubal remains the pitcher to beat until someone proves otherwise.

NL Cy Young Odds

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.

Skenes' 1.96 career ERA through his first 55 starts is the lowest in the Live Ball Era (since 1920). No pitcher in modern history has been this dominant this quickly. His 2025 season was defined by otherworldly consistency despite pitching for a last-place Pirates team that finished 91 games under .500. He limited opponents to a .199 batting average and posted an MLB-leading 217 ERA+. Despite a 10-10 record that didn't reflect his excellence due to lack of run support, voters recognized his dominance.

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 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. The NL race is far deeper than the AL at the moment.

MLB Cy Young Award History

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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