As he waits to begin his career in the Bronx, the New York Yankees’ Gerrit Cole sits atop the AL Cy Young odds as a +400 betting favourite at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Cole became the highest paid pitcher in MLB history when he inked a nine-year, $324 million contract with New York after turning in a career year with the Houston Astros in 2019. The 29-year-old set career highs with 20 wins and an MLB-leading 326 strikeouts, and looks to the eventual start of the season while also set as a +3000 wager to claim AL MVP honours.
Behind Cole on the list, his former Astros teammate and reigning AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander sits second at +500, with Shane Bieber and Lucas Giolito both sporting +1200 odds. Tyler Glasnow then sits just back of that duo at +1600 odds at betting sites.
Verlander earned his second career Cy Young after leading the majors with 21 wins last season. The 37-year-old veteran also pitched an MLB-leading 223.0 innings while posting a 0.80 WHIP. Bieber enjoyed a breakthrough in just his second MLB season. The Cleveland Indians right-hander compiled a 15-8 record and surrendered more than two earned runs just twice in his final 13 starts of the season.
Giolito struggled down the stretch last season before being shut down due to an injury to his pitching arm but still managed to finish with a 14-9 record, and will play a crucial role in the Chicago White Sox’ bid to return to playoff contention. Glasnow opened last season on a torrid 6-1 run before being hobbled by injuries. While he is reportedly on the road to recovery, concerns linger about the Tampa Bay Rays hurler’s tendency to tip his pitches, which proved costly during his two appearances against Houston in last season’s ALDS.
Over in the National League, New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom is the +500 betting favorite on the NL Cy Young odds. The two-time defending NL Cy Young winner posted just 11 wins last season but was dominant over the final three months, shutting out opponents in six of his final 13 starts.
Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer (+700) sits just ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers rising star Walker Buehler (+800), with both just ahead of St. Louis Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty (+900). Yu Darvish aims to build on a stellar campaign with the Chicago Cubs last season after being hobbled by injury in 2018, and is also set at +900 on those MLB odds.
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