2020 MLB Futures | American League Cy Young
Some of the best pitchers in baseball reside in the American League. Yet, only one will be named the ‘best of the best’ for the 2020 MLB season by winning the annual AL Cy Young award. This honor is voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
The Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander won this award last season to become the second two-time winner (2011) over the past 10 years along with Corey Kluber, who is currently with the Texas Rangers. He won the Cy Young in 2014 and 2017.
AL Cy Young Favorites
There is basically a two-pitcher short list of favorites in the AL when it comes to MLB futures odds to win. Verlander is a +450 second-favorite behind his former Houston teammate Gerrit Cole at +400 betting odds.
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Cole was the talk of the offseason player moves after signing a huge contact with the New York Yankees. Behind a supporting cast that forms the clear favorite to win the AL Pennant as well, there is quite a bit of value in Cole’s odds to win the Cy Young.
The right hander started his MLB career with Pittsburgh before going to Houston in 2018. Over those last two seasons, he has posted 35 wins with an average ERA of 2.69. Staying healthy is always a concern for any starting pitcher, but Cole is in excellent position to impress the voters in the Yankees’ quest for another World Series title.
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Verlander should be able to stay close in Cole’s rear view mirror coming into his 15th season in the Majors.
Most of that career has been spent in Detroit before coming to Houston halfway through the 2017 season. Last year, the right hander made 34 starts and won 21 games on his way to winning the Cy Young. Back in 2011, he went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA to take top honors.
The one steady thing about Verlander is his consistent ability to make his starts. Over the course of the last 14 seasons, he has started at least 30 games in 12 of those campaigns. That alone adds value to his Cy Young betting odds.
AL Cy Young Valued Contenders
Both Shane Bieber and Lucas Giolito have been listed next at +1000 odds. Rounding out the Top 5 is Mike Clevinger at +1400.
Of the three, Bieber is coming off the best season in the Cleveland Indians’ rotation. The right hander went 15-8 in 34 starts with a 3.28 ERA. He may also have the most upside in just his third season with the team. He posted 11 wins in 20 starts in 2018 while ending the season with an ERA of 4.55.
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Another big step forward in 2020 would put Bieber in the same company as the top two starters on this list.
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Giolito is coming off a solid effort in the Chicago White Sox starting rotation. Over the past two years, this right hander has made 61 starts while going a combined 24-22 with a sub-.500 team. The impressive stat from 2019 was a 3.41 ERA.
If Chicago can find a way to improve upon seven-straight losing campaigns, Giolito might be able to attract a bit more attention for his efforts on the mound.
Blake Snell won the 2018 AL Cy Young with Tampa Bay and his odds to win this season are +1600. Kluber is further down the list at +2500 odds to win a third Cy Young in his MLB career.