MLB Cy Young Odds: Skenes A Resounding NL Favorite

Many MLB pitchers take the ball every five days, but only a few regularly dominate. For the 2025 MLB Cy Young odds, the top hurlers stand out. Tarik Skubal is the favorite in the AL, while Paul Skenes leads the NL odds board.

Let’s determine some betting value for the Cy Young odds this season in the AL and NL:

American League Cy Young Odds

Odds as of Jan. 14

AL Cy Young Favorite: Tarik Skubal (+400)

Skubal's 2024 season was nothing short of dominant, as he posted a 2.34 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 244 strikeouts over 195 innings, cementing himself as one of baseball's elite pitchers. His ability to shut down opposing lineups with a devastating fastball-changeup combination earned him the AL Cy Young Award.

Entering 2025, Skubal is a resounding favorite to win the honor again, thanks to his consistency, elite command, and knack for delivering in high-stakes moments. With his injury woes behind him and some respect on the Tigers name, Skubal is a fair +400 pre-season bet.

AL Cy Young Value Pick: Shane McClanahan (+2000)

Injuries have forced the Rays lefty to miss lots of time, but he's great when he's on the hill. From 2022 to 2023, McClanahan posted a 2.85 ERA in 49 starts (136 ERA+) with 10.1 K/9. The Rays won't be a dynamite team in 2025, but they often surprise us. I think McClanahan will, too.

He earned Cy Young votes for a strong effort in 2022, With a more veteran approach to the game and a greater understanding of injury management (hopefully), McClanahan's electric stuff could carry him to a top-three Cy Young spot.

National League Cy Young Odds

Odds as of August 30

NL Cy Young Favorite: Paul Skenes (+270)

Skenes delivered a historic rookie season in 2024, posting an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts over 133 innings for the Pirates. His exceptional performance earned him the NL Rookie of the Year award. As I look ahead to 2025, Skenes is the frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award. Bettors anticipate a full workload of Skenes' dominance will make it impossible for any other pitchers to contend.

The youngster's stuff is good enough. Durability is the big question. I'd wait before wagering Skenes as the chalk.

NL Cy Young Value Pick: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (+1800)

Yamamoto dealt with injuries during his rookie season but rounded into shape near the end of the year. The Japanese rookie posted a 3.00 ERA and 105 strikeouts over 90 innings pitched. That type of electric stuff rivals Skenes. Yamamoto further established himself during the postseason, when his 6.1 IP of one-run ball in Game 2 helped the Dodgers take the lead in the World Series.

The talent is all there. He's worth a wager at +1800.

MLB Cy Young Award History

Making A Cy Young Futures Bet

Betting on an MLB Cy Young Award is a form of futures betting because you are making a pick based on an outcome determined at the end of the MLB regular season. The trophy is usually given out in mid-December and if you want to get a bigger payout, it’s best to lock in your bets sooner rather than later so you can take advantage of better odds. The closer it gets to the end of the season, the more the odds will change.

For an X’s and O’s read on how America’s pastime works, check out our How to Bet on Baseball guide. Unlike the Mets every year, it won’t let you down. 

How To Read MLB Cy Young Odds

The above charts feature the odds for each top pitcher in the American League and National League. At your sportsbook of choice, the betting lines for the National League could look something like this:

Zack Wheeler +150

Corbin Burnes +160

Max Scherzer +190

This means that Wheeler is the favorite since he has the lowest odds and the highest chance of winning the prop, according to oddsmakers. If you were to bet $100 on Wheeler and he won, you would get a payout of $250 – your original $100 is returned along with your winnings of $150.

On the other hand, if you strongly believe that Corbin Burnes is going to shine in Milwaukee, a winning $100 bet on him would yield $260 – your $100 comes back along with your prize of $160.

Our odds calculator will show you how much you’d win based on the odds and amount bet.