The National League Cy Young Award is the top prize for the league’s best pitcher. The Cy Young Award was first given out in 1956, but was split into two awards, one for each league, in 1967.

Trevor Bauer, now with the Dodgers, won the NL Cy Young for the Cincinnati Reds in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. But 2021 had belonged to Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, who was a runaway favorite to win the NL Cy Young at all top sportsbooks and betting sites until he was knocked out for at least two months in July with an elbow injury.

The new favorite to win the award is starter Zack Wheeler of the Phillies.

NL Cy Young Odds

Odds via FanDuel and are accurate as of publication. Check out our FanDuel sportsbook review.

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Top NL Cy Young Contenders

Zack Wheeler, Phillies

Odds: +170 at FanDuel

Odds: +175 at DraftKings

Check out our DraftKings vs FanDuel comparison when choosing between the two sportsbooks.

The Phillies have overtaken the Mets in the NL East and are now battling the Braves for the top spot. Given the strength of the NL West, second place in this division will be the first loser and miss the playoffs. The loss of deGrom is one reason. The play of the resurgent Phillies is another.

The Phils hung around just long enough to be buyers at the trade deadline and picked up starter Kyle Gibson from the Rangers. Gibson won two of his first three starts for Philly.

Wheeler’s emergence as the front-runner in this market is another instructive tale in the perils of MLB futures markets. DeGrom was considered an impervious lock to win this prize before getting hurt. Value is always the play to make until you reach the final month or so of the season. Wheeler’s MLB odds to win the NL Cy Young Award were around +18000 just a month ago.

Wheeler (10-6, 2.42 ERA) has fanned 181 batters in 156 innings, while throwing three complete games and a pair of shutouts. He leads the majors in all four categories. His Wins Above Replacement is second in all of baseball (players and pitchers) to Shohei Ohtani.

CHECK OUT: AL Cy Young Award Odds & Top Contenders

Corbin Burnes, Brewers

Odds: +390 at FanDuel

Odds: +475 at DraftKings

Burnes and Milwaukee teammate Brandon Woodruff have anchored a rotation that has the Brewers running away with the NL Central. Both were afterthoughts during deGrom’s dominance. Now, they are each in the top four in this market at DraftKings and FanDuel. They may negate each other when it comes to the voting. That would bode well for Wheeler.

Burnes (7-4) has been quietly spectacular this season. He fanned 10 consecutive Cubs on just 41 pitches in a 10-0 win on August 11. He struck out 58 batters in April before issuing his first walk of the season. His 2.23 ERA and 176 strikeouts are both third in the majors. He is tops across MLB in walks, strikeouts and HRs per 9 innings. His price has shortened significantly across MLB betting sites in the past month, shrinking from +2000.

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Walker Buehler, Dodgers

Odds: +390 at FanDuel

Odds: +475 at DraftKings

The Dodgers have stockpiled a starting rotation with the potential to rival that of the 1970 Orioles. But injuries and other issues have sidelined Clayton Kershaw and Bauer. The Dodgers managed to swipe Max Scherzer from the Nationals at the trade deadline.

But none have pitched as well as Buehler this season. Before deGrom’s injury, the price on Buehler stood at +3500 on most sports betting apps.

Buehler leads the majors with a 2.13 ERA. He is third in innings pitched with 147.2 and has 152 strikeouts against just 38 walks. Without deGrom, who is now +2500, as a real concern here, bettors can make a case for any of the top four listed above. Getting Buehler at +475 at DraftKings is a solid play here given the upside still available for the Dodgers over the final seven weeks of the season.

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NL Cy Young FAQs