MLB futures betting markets are heating up as we get closer to the start of Spring Training. We’re going to analyze the 2023 MLB American League Cy Young futures market today.
Justin Verlander won the 2022 MLB AL Cy Young award unanimously.
Verlander led the Majors in ERA (1.75) and WHIP (0.83). He finished second in wins (18), but only 20th in strikeouts (185). Verlander signed with the Mets during the offseason ($86.66 million for two years).
There hasn’t been a pitcher to win back-to-back AL Cy Young awards since Pedro Martinez (1999 and 2000) and there won’t be this year with Verlander playing on a National League team this season.
Top Contenders to Win the 2023 AL Cy Young Award
There are six pitchers in the American League priced at 10/1 or lower to win the Cy Young.
Jacob deGrom (+500)
deGrom signed a huge contract with Texas during the offseason. His numbers are strong when on the mound, but he has only started 26 games in the last two two years due to injury.
Gerrit Cole (+600)
Cole went 13-8 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.017 WHIP last season. He led the Majors in strikeouts (257), but he also allowed the second-most home runs (33), which is something he’ll need to improve on.
Alek Manoah (+800)
Manoah finished 3rd in AL Cy Young voting last year. Manoah went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and 0.992 WHIP. He’s still only 25 years old and will have a great shot at the Cy Young in 2023 with the Blue Jays.
Dylan Cease (+900)
Cease finished last season with a 14-8 record, 2.20 ERA and 1.109 WHIP. Cease ranked 5th in MLB with 227 strikeouts. He has to work on his control, though, as he led the Majors in walks (78).
Carlos Rodon (+1000)
Rodon will be pitching with the Yankees in 2023. In 2022 with the Giants, Rodon went 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.028 WHIP. He ranked in the Majors in strikeouts (237) and first in FIP (2.25).
Shane Bieber (+1000)
Bieber was injured for most of the 2021 season. In 2022, he went 13-8 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.040 WHIP. He pitched 200 innings with 198 strikeouts. He could take another step forward in 2023.
2023 MLB American League Cy Young Predictions
Best Bet: Shohei Ohtani (+1200)
Ohtani went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 1.012 WHIP last season. Ohtani led the AL in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9). He finished the season with 219 strikeouts in just 166 innings pitched.
If Ohtani can pitch more innings in 2023 and improve his numbers slightly, he’ll have a great shot at the 2023 MLB AL Cy Young award. He won the AL MVP in 2021, but hasn’t won a Cy Young yet.
The Angels will need Ohtani to have a great season if they want any chance at making the playoffs.
2023 MLB AL Cy Young Futures Betting Lines
Jacob deGrom (+500)
Gerrit Cole (+600)
Alek Manoah (+800)
Dylan Cease (+900)
Carlos Rodon (+1000)
Shane Bieber (+1000)
Shohei Ohtani (+1200)
Shane McClanahan (+1200)
Kevin Gausman (+1500)
Framber Valdez (+1500)
Robbie Ray (+1500)
Logan Gilbert (+1800)
Luis Castillo (+1800)
Christian Javier (+2000)
Lance McCullers (+3000)
Lucas Giolito (+3500)
Triston McKenzie (+3500)
Nestor Cortes (+4000)
Lance Lynn (+4000)
Joe Ryan (+4500)
Tyler Anderson (+5000)
Michael Kopech (+5000)
Luis Severino (+6000)
Jose Urquidy (+6000)
Chris Bassitt (+6000)
Jose Berrios (+7000)
George Kirby (+7000)
Brayan Bello (+7000)
Martin Perez (+8000)
Mike Clevinger (+8000)
Luis Garcia (+8000)
Kyle Gibson (+8000)
Jon Gray (+8000)
Cal Quantrill (+8000)
Sonny Gray (+8000)
Marco Gonzales (+9000)
