There are just a few games left in the Major League Baseball regular season, as teams jostle for a wild card spot there are also individual players competing for individual accolades. In both the American and National Leagues, the battle for the Cy Young award is up in the air, and while most of the contenders have fallen by the wayside, a few are still standing.
To make things even more exciting, we’ve found the best sites for betting on the Cy Young, with some of the best odds and most generous bonuses out there!
Our number one pick today is Bovada, but we’ve got other amazing sportsbooks to share with you.
Want to find out more? Let’s get this started.
Sites with the Best Cy Young Odds
- Bovada: Best overall
- BetOnline: Up to $1,000 welcome bonus
- MyBookie: Excellent odds
- BetUS: #1 pick for beginners
Cy Young Award Betting Odds (courtesy of Bovada *odds subject to change)
American League Cy Young Odds
- Gerrit Cole (-1800)
- Sonny Gray (+5000)
- Kevin Gausman (+6000)
- Luis Castillo (+10000)
>>Visit Bovada for the latest AL Cy Young odds.
National League Cy Young Odds
- Blake Snell (-5000)
- Justin Steele (+2500)
- Spencer Strider (+6600)
- Zak Gallen (+10000)
Detailed MLB Cy Young Award Info
- Finalists: TBA
- Date: TBA (Sometime after the end of the playoffs)
- Time: TBA
- Location: TBA
- Channel: MLB Network
- Odds: Check here
MLB Cy Young History: Everything You Should Know
The Cy Young Award was created in 1956 to signify the best pitcher in the major leagues each year. Commissioner Ford Frick decided to name the award after Cy Young, who had passed away in 1955. The winners are determined by a vote of members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Cy Young has been the leader in wins since 1903 when he tallied his 366th victory. He would end up finishing his career with an unbelievable 511 wins, one of baseball’s most unbreakable records.
From 1956-1966 there was only one Cy Young award given out each season. This makes the three Cy won by Sandy Kofax between 1963-1966 even more remarkable. Kofax was the first two-time AND three-time winner of the award.
In 1967 the American and National League both began naming a winner every year. Two years later, in 1969, both the Tigers Denny Mclain and Mike Cueller of the Orioles were named American League winners due to a tie in votes.
This led to a change in voting procedures intended to eliminate ties, and it was the most effective change in baseball history, as there haven’t been any ties since then.
Find out more about AL and NL Cy Young betting odds at MyBookie.
Cy Young Awards Stats
The Dodgers dominated the award with 12 winners under the franchise banner. Four teams are tied at a distant second with 7 winners. Dodgers’ Left Handed pitchers by themselves account for 7 Cy Youngs.
Eleven winners of the Cy Young also won their league’s Most Valuable Player award the same year, most recently the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw in 2014. This year’s NL favorite, Justin Verlander, also won an MVP in 2011 with the Tigers.
Only one player has won the Cy Young award in his MLB Rookie of the year, and of course, he was a Dodger. Precocious screwballer Fernando Valenzuela won the award in 1981.
There are no relief pitchers listed amongst the Cy Young odds, and with good reason. There hasn’t been a winner since 2003, when Eric Gagne took home the award.
You have to go all the way back to 1992 in the American League when the Oakland A’s Dennis Eckersley won the award. We’re guessing only because the Dodgers were ineligible for the AL award.
For the record, the first reliever to win the award was Mike Marshall in 1974, when he set the major league record for pitching appearances with 106. As we’re sure you’ve figured out, he also was a Dodger and, strangely, also a screwballer.
>> Find the latest Cy Young odds at BetOnline
AL and NL Cy Young Award Contenders
The American league’s remaining contenders for the Cy are headlined by Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (-1800). He entered the season as the favorite and has stayed at or near the top all year long. Unfortunately that can’t be said for his team. Despite Cole’s best efforts the Yankees will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016 (until a meaningless late season surge, the Yanks were in danger of finishing under .500 for the first time in more than 30 years).
All of the other AL Cy Young contenders are in the thick of the playoff races and while it’s not likely, a dominant finish could be enough to propel one of Luis Castillo, Kevin Gausman, or Sonny Gray past Cole for the AL Cy Young.
In the National League, things stack up similarly with the Padres Blake Snell leading the pack, while playing on a high payroll also-ran. The other three main contenders, Spencer Strider, Zac Gallen and Justin Steele are hoping to be postseason bound (Strider is sure he’ll be there). Will someone turn a superlative September into a Cy? We’ll see.
So let’s take a closer look at the remaining contenders for the AL and NL Cy Young awards.
>> Find out more about AL and NL Cy Young betting odds at MyBookie
American League Cy Young
Gerrit Cole: Betting Odds (-1800)
While the Yankee ace’s stellar season probably won’t be enough to get New York into the postseason, it looks like it will be sufficient to bring Cole his first Cy Young award.
He’s among the AL leaders in most of the important pitching statistics, and he plays in New York, which always helps a player’s profile. Cole has already surpassed 200 strikeouts and should finish with a -sub 2.80 ERA and a W-L record 10 games over .500.
Even though most analytics experts will tell you W-L record isn’t a good indicator of a pitchers dominance, most baseball writers aren’t analytics experts. Some aren’t even baseball experts. My point is that Cole has a lot going for him.
There is still a chance that someone can beat Cole, but he’s looking good to bring home the AL Cy Young, which means his odds are going to get tighter by the day.
Sonny Gray: Betting Odds (+5000)
As the best pitcher on a likely division winner with a sub 3.00 ERA, one might think Sonny Gray would have a little bit more talk about him for postseason honors. Much like the Twins, Gray is the definition of low profile and his mediocre W/L record doesn’t catch the attention of the inattentive eye. Heck, even his name is low profile…Gray.
Sonny has performed well in all of his low profile stops, it was only in New York that he struggled. It’s conceivable that Gray throws a no hitter in late September, but even if he does, will folks notice?
Kevin Gausman: Betting Odds (+6000)
After spending most of his career as a journeyman starter, Gausman seems to have figured it out the last couple of seasons in Toronto. Maybe it’s that fresh Canadian air?
Gausman has always been a good strikeout pitcher, but his recent numbers have put him amongst the game’s elite starters. When it comes to the other statistics Gausman is good, but not nearly as good as he is at getting strikeouts.
Without being dominant in the other statistical areas, a pitcher generally has to be historically good at striking out batters to win a Cy Young. Twenty years ago, Gausman might have been considered historic, but in the strikeout-happy era we are currently in, it probably isn’t enough for him to WIN the Cy Young. But just being a finalist is an honor, right?
Luis Castillo: Betting Odds (+10000)
Since being acquired at the 2022 trade deadline from Cinncinatti Castillo has been a rock in the starting rotation in Seattle, but he’s more than just an innings eater with a cool pitching delivery. Castillo’s name is on all the same AL leader lists that Garrett Cole’s, if a few spots lower.
Furthermore, Castillo has his team competing for the AL West divisional title and will be pitching in some big late season matchups against division opponents Texas and Houston. If he shuts down those two rivals and the Mariners end up claiming the division title, Luis will have a case to bring home some hardware.
One concern for Castillo is that he might lose some votes to teammate George Kirby (+20000) (we think Kirby could redirect some votes and be a spoiler, but don’t consider him worth betting on to win).
Pick the Cy Young Winner at BetUS.
National League Cy Young
Blake Snell: Betting Odds (-5000)
The Padres have been as disappointing as any team this year. Much like they were last year, until they snuck into the playoffs. That doesn’t seem very likely at this moment, but teams have overcome greater deficits in less time to make the playoffs (it doesn’t hurt that there are now three wild card spots).
Enough about the Padres and back to Snell, who was leading the National League in ERA and had surpassed 230 strikeouts in only 180 innings at the time of this writing. Snell could be looking at history in becoming just the seventh pitcher to win the Cy Young award in both Leagues.
Actually seven is kind of a lot, but it’s still impressive.
Justin Steele: Betting Odds (+2500)
The surprising southpaw Steele has played a heavy hand in the Cubs surprisingly competitive season. When Marcus Stroman went down with injury, many predicted that it would be the end for Chicago, but Steele raised his game and kept the team in contention.
If Steele can continue topping himself and the Cubs can win the NL Central division, it would be very reasonable to hand the award to the Cubs lefty. He might not have the overwhelming strikeout numbers of the other candidates, but he could lead the league in wins. And yes, I know about wins being a somewhat arbitrary statistic. I just don’t trust that the Cy Young voters all know that.
If you were looking for a bit of a longshot to put a wager down on, we like Justin Steele in the National League.
Spencer Strider: Betting Odds (+6600)
If mustaches were considered for the Cy Young award, Spencer Strider would be a heavy, heavy favorite. As it is, Strider is within striking distance of the leader and in some ways you can argue he’s having a better season.
Other than ERA, Strider has better stats than Snell, in some cases considerably. If these odds are still available when you read this we wouldn’t be against taking a flier. Strider seems like a sure bet to bank multiple Cy Young awards in his career and there’s a slim chance that this is his first.
Zak Gallen: Betting Odds (+10000)
Gallen has taken some time to live up to his pedigree, but it seems that he’s now entering his prime and putting it all together. His stats have been improving steadily over the last few seasons and if he keeps it up, there could be a Cy Young award in his future.
Back when Arizona was pushing the Dodgers for first place, this would have been a real nice bet, but that was then and this is now…now meaning whenever you might be reading this.
Explore the latest odds for Cy Young NL by visiting MyBookie.
Get a 50% Deposit Bonus Up to $1,000 at BetOnline
The Cy Young Awards honor the best pitchers in the American and National Leagues. The list of past winners is filled with Hall of Famers, and you can be sure several of the players listed amongst the favorites for this year’s Cy Youngs will end up in Cooperstown too. During our best online sportsbook review, we found that it offers a lot of exciting features to its users!
BetOnline wants to drum up as much interest in this wager as they can, which is why they’re currently running a special in which you can get a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 by using the promo code BOL1000.
All you have to do is enter the code during sign-up and deposit at least $55. Then, you’ll need to satisfy a 10x wagering requirement, but you’ll have 30 days to do it. It is also an excellent MLB props betting site online.
We doubt that you needed another excuse to bet on the Cy Young Awards — but BetOnline just provided you with one anyway.
>> Get $1,000 welcome bonus [BetOnline] <<
Best Sites to Bet on MLB Cy Young Futures
You can bet on the AL and NL Cy Young at any number of online sportsbooks or even at your local brick-and-mortar establishment. We’d recommend spending your money at big, established online bookies like BetOnline or Bovada, though.
These sites have been around for years, building up a reputation for treating players fairly when it comes to baseball futures bets. That’s far from the only reason to bet with them, though:
- They’re convenient: You can get the most up-to-date lines anytime you want, simply by refreshing the page.
- They reward players: We’ve already mentioned the special that BetOnline is running, but that’s just one of the many rewards these sites offer new and existing players. They’re always looking for ways to get you into the action — other sportsbooks simply can’t compete with that.
- They offer round-the-clock action: You can bet on most sports matchups leading right up to the start time, and then you can get live bets during the game.
Why Bet on the MLB Cy Young Awards Online?
It’s possible that both the American and National Leagues will have first time winners of the Cy Young awards this season, as only one of the top remaining contenders has one to his name (Blake Snell). And as we said before, if Snell wins, he’ll have one in each league.
Players like Gerrit Cole and Spencer Strider have the talent and opportunity to bring home multiple Cy Young awards before their careers are over, but you need to get that first one before you can start to compile them.
Here are some reasons why betting on the AL and NL Cy Young represents a unique value:
- Lock in the best Odds: As every day passes, the oddsmakers are squeezing all of the value from anyone emerging as a candidate, lock in your guy while the odds are still this good.
- History Makers: Can Blake Snell join the list of immortals who have won the award in both leagues or will we see two first time winners of the Cy Young award this year?
- Punching a ticket to the Hall of Fame?: Does Gerrit Cole become an all timer if he adds a Cy Young to his trophy case? Does it matter if you bet on him and you cash the bet? Probably not.
Guide to the Latest Cy Young Odds
What Is the MLB Cy Young?
The AL and NL Cy Young awards are presented annually to the most outstanding pitcher in both leagues. Make sure you find a baseball betting strategy that fits your betting style.
When Are the Cy Youngs Awarded?
The 2023 AL and NL Cy Young winners are announced sometime after the conclusion of the MLB World Series.
Who Were the Cy Young Winners Last Season?
The Houston Astros Justin Verlander won the American League Cy Young, his third win.
Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins won the Cy Young in the National League; it was his first win.
Who Will Be the 2023 AL and NL Cy Young Award Winners?
We’re positive that the AL and NL Cy Young winners will be amongst the players we profiled above. Let’s be clear that we said ALMOST, as there are likely odds being offered on a number of other players and if you want to bet on them, there’s probably someone willing to take that bet.
If you are thinking of choosing from amongst the players profiled in our guide we think Cole is a worthy favorite in the American League and while the value isn’t overwhelming, it’s not like the Shohei Otani MVP odds (are there any anymore?). If you don’t like betting the favorite, we see the next three guys pretty evenly, so Luis Castillo represents the best value.
In the National League, despite Blake Snell finishing strong we still have a good feeling about Spencer Strider and not just because of the mustache. Good luck to everyone and remember, no matter who you decide to bet on, please always wager responsibly.
If you are looking for the best MLB betting app to use, make sure to take a look at our top picks – Bovada and BetOnline.
DISCLAIMER: Online gambling comes with risks. There’s no guarantee of financial gain, so you should only gamble with what you can afford to lose. All information on this site is for entertainment purposes only.
While gambling can be fun, it can also be addictive. If you or anyone you know suffer from a gambling addiction problem, we recommend that you call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 to speak with an advisor. Please remember that our guides and all gambling sites are only for people who are 18+. Also, check with local laws to find out if online gambling is legal in your area.
For free online gambling addiction resources, visit these organizations:
