MLB Cy Young Odds 2026: AL & NL Favorites, Predictions

Starting pitchers may not carry the same weight in today’s game as they once did, but there’s still something special about watching the best take the mound every few days.

In 2025, Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal and Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes were considered the best hurlers in the sport. Skubal won his second straight Cy Young award in the American League, while Skenes earned his first trophy in the National League.

Get the latest MLB betting odds and predictions for the 2026 Cy Young market:

AL Cy Young Odds 2026: Favorites

Who Will Win the AL Cy Young in 2026?

As expected, Tarik Skubal begins atop the American League Cy Young market. He’s +350 to win the award in 2026, giving him an implied probability of 27.78%.

It’s worth acknowledging the Skubal trade rumors when assessing this market. If Skubal were to be traded to an NL team, it could significantly shake up the odds.

Given Skubal is entering the final year of his deal with Detroit, I don’t think the rumors are going away until he’s extended. The Tigers could be in a position to shop him at the deadline.

Despite all that, Skubal deserves to be the favorite as the best pitcher in the AL.

He became the first back-to-back Cy Young winner since Jacob deGrom accomplished the feat in the NL in 2018 and 2019. Pedro Martínez was the last pitcher to do it in the AL, winning the award in 1999 and 2000.

Skubal started with a +300 price tag to repeat last offseason. He finished the 2025 campaign with a 13-6 record and a 2.21 ERA in 31 starts. He struck out 241 batters and walked 33 across 195 1/3 innings.

After netting all 30 first-place votes in 2024, Skubal faced more competition in the 2025 race. He earned 26 votes, while Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet received four first-place votes and 26 second-place votes en route to a runner-up finish.

Crochet figures to be Skubal’s biggest challenger once again in 2026, and would be in line to take over as the sole favorite if the Tigers move on from their ace. I’m also counting on a bounce-back campaign from Kansas City Royals southpaw Cole Ragans to be in the mix.

Prediction: Garrett Crochet

NL Cy Young Odds 2026: Favorites

Who Will Win the NL Cy Young in 2026?

It’s no surprise to see Paul Skenes in front as the National League Cy Young favorite in 2026. His +300 odds translate to an implied probability of 25% to defend his title.

There wasn’t much drama in the NL Cy Young race last season. Skenes started as a +400 favorite after demonstrating some of the best stuff in baseball during a NL Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024.

For his encore act, Skenes spun a 1.97 ERA in 32 starts. He registered 216 strikeouts and 42 walks across 187 2/3 innings, generating a bWAR of 7.6.

Bettors couldn’t get enough of Skenes in this market at BetMGM. He received the most handle (32.7%) and second-most tickets (11.1%) in this market. They proved to be right, as he led as the favorite for much of the year before receiving all 30 first-place votes.

Skenes became the first unanimous NL Cy Young since Sandy Alcántara in 2022 and just the fifth in the past two decades. He’s the third Pirates pitcher to win the award, joining Doug Drabek (1990) and Vern Law (1960).

Because Skenes isn’t a free agent until after the 2029 campaign, the threat of trade chatter around the ace isn’t as real. Still, the Pirates are motivated to build a competitive team around Skenes, setting him up for more success.

Simply put, Skenes is the best pitcher in the sport. He could be just getting started when it comes to winning Cy Young awards.

However, some talented pitchers can put pressure on Skenes.

Philadelphia Phillies lefty Cristopher Sánchez garnered all 30 second-place votes to finish as the runner-up. Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who won the World Series MVP award after a magnificent postseason, finished third.

Logan Webb, Freddy Peralta, and Zack Wheeler could all continue to be in the mix next year. I also can’t shake this feeling that Shohei Ohtani might just be motivated to win a Cy Young trophy later in his career, as he’s always seemed to prefer pitching over hitting.

This will be Skenes’ award to lose, but there are several names worth keeping an eye on.

Prediction: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

2025 AL Cy Young Voting

2025 NL Cy Young Voting

List of AL & NL Cy Young Winners

*There was only one award for both leagues from 1956-66.

Players With Most Cy Young Awards

Roger Clemens has won the most Cy Young Awards (seven):

Roger Clemens: 7
Randy Johnson: 5
Greg Maddux: 4
Steve Carlton: 4

Teams With Most Cy Young Awards

The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have the most Cy Young Awards (12):

Dodgers: 12
Braves: 8
Mets: 7
Phillies: 7
Red Sox: 7

Has a Rookie Ever Won the Cy Young Award?

Fernando Valenzuela is the only rookie to win the Cy Young.

As a 21-year-old for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, Valenzuela won the NL Cy Young. He was led the MLB in strikeouts and won NL Rookie of the Year in leading the Dodgers to the World Series.