The Cy Young races are always fascinating to watch every season, as there are always a couple of pitchers who surprise. Last season that was the case for Marlins breakout Sandy Alcantara, who won the NL Cy Young, and ageless wonder Justin Verlander, who won the AL Cy Young with the Astros.
Alcantara had a 14-9 record, 207 strikeouts in 228 innings pitched and produced a major-league-best six complete games, which is virtually unheard of in today's game. As for Verlander, the 39-year-old righty did not slow down after missing all of 2021, posting a 19-4 record and 1.75 ERA in 28 starts. The newly crowned three-time Cy Young award winner also had 185 strikeouts in 175 innings pitched.
Heading into this season, Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom are the betting favorites to win the Cy Young in the American League. Meanwhile, Alcantara is the favorite to win his second-straight Cy Young in the National League. However, all three pitchers will have some stiff competition for the award, as Luis Castillo, Kevin Gausman, Triston McKenzie, Julio Urias, Zac Gallen, and Zack Wheeler are some of the starters who can provide value for bettors looking to find that diamond in the rough.
Below, we’ll break down the top pitchers in both leagues and some of our favorite sleepers to win the AL and NL Cy Young.
AL Cy Young Odds 2023: Top 10
All odds courtesy of BetMGM
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Gerrit Cole | Yankees | +600 |
| Jacob deGrom | Rangers | +600 |
| Dylan Cease | White Sox | +800 |
| Alek Manoah | Blue Jays | +900 |
| Carlos Rodon | Yankees | +1000 |
| Shohei Ohtani | Angels | +1000 |
| Shane McClanahan | Rays | +1200 |
| Shane Bieber | Guardians | +1300 |
| Kevin Gausman | Blue Jays | +1600 |
| Luis Castillo | Mariners | +1800 |
AL Cy Young Favorites
Gerrit Cole, Yankees (+600) and Jacob deGrom (+600). Cole enters this season as the betting favorite for the AL Cy Young, along with Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom. However, between the two pitchers, I would feel more comfortable rolling with Cole over deGrom, who is already dealing with minor arm soreness and only made 11 starts last season with the Mets.
Meanwhile, Cole is coming off another All-Star season in 2022, posting a 13-8 record, 3.50 ERA, and an AL-high 257 strikeouts in 200.2 innings pitched (33 starts). The five-time All-Star also gave up an AL-high 33 home runs, so he'll have to cut back on the long balls to win his first Cy Young. The 32-year-old righty has some competition in his own rotation for the award between Carlos Rodon (+1000) and Nestor Cortes (+4000), who gave the Yankees' starting rotation a boost last season.
AL Cy Young Sleeper
Luis Castillo, Mariners (+1800). The Mariners made a significant splash at the trade deadline last season by acquiring Castillo, and it paid off big time. The veteran righty looked good in 11 starts with Mariners, recording a 4-2 record, 3.17 ERA, and 77 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched. He also produced a FIP of 2.91 and SO/9 of 10.6, which are even better indicators of his elite stuff.
Castillo is part of a solid rotation that features Robbie Ray, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Marco Gonzales. Ray is the headliner, but Castillo could put up some stats against the Rangers, Angels, and Athletics in the AL West. If the Castillo that we saw last season and in the postseason shows up, he will be in the running for the AL's top pitching honor. At 18/1 odds (+1800), he's a low-risk, high-reward option that bettors won't have to break the bank for.
Other sleepers to consider: Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (+1600), Triston McKenzie, Guardians (+3500)
NL Cy Young Odds 2023: Top 10
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Sandy Alcantara | Marlins | +475 |
| Corbin Burnes | Brewers | +500 |
| Justin Verlander | Mets | +600 |
| Max Scherzer | Mets | +750 |
| Spencer Strider | Braves | +1100 |
| Aaron Nola | Phillies | +1200 |
| Max Fried | Braves | +1200 |
| Zac Gallen | Diamondbacks | +1600 |
| Zack Wheeler | Phillies | +1600 |
| Julio Urias | Dodgers | +2000 |
NL Cy Young Favorite
Sandy Alcantara, Marlins (+475). The 27-year-old righty is looking to win his second-straight NL Cy Young, which has been done three times since 2011. The last time it happened was in the '17 and '18 seasons when deGrom won the award. Alcantara can add his name to the list, as he has no fear of pitching deep into games.
Last season, Alcantara had six complete games, which was the best in the National League. The only other pitcher to come close was Phillies starter Aaron Nola, who had just two complete games. Alcantara has amassed 200-plus innings pitched and 200-plus strikeouts in consecutive seasons, and it doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon. At +475 odds, Alcantara is worth betting on, as his success is not solely predicated on how the Marlins perform as a team.
NL Cy Young Sleeper
Julio Urias, Dodgers (+2000). Urias has flown under the radar despite producing 37 wins over the past two seasons. The 26-year-old lefty was excellent last season, posting a 17-7 record, 2.16 ERA (career-best), and 166 strikeouts in 175 innings pitched. He's not a heavy strikeout pitcher, but he finds a way to be productive, finishing third in NL Cy Young voting last year behind Max Fried and Alcantara.
Los Angeles will be looking for Urias to lead the charge as it tries to navigate through a tough NL West division and National League. At 20/1 odds, Urias is one of the better value bets on the board for Cy Young in both leagues. If the Dodgers win another division crown and can capture the top seed in the NL playoffs, Urias might find himself with a Cy Young award.
Other sleepers to consider: Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (+1600), Zack Wheeler, Phillies (+1600)
