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1 / 48AL #23 (tie): Michael Fulmer
- Cy Young odds: +6000
- Team: Detroit Tigers
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 3 - 12
--- ERA: 4.69
--- WHIP: 1.315
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 7.5
Preseason favorites to win AL and NL Cy Young
The 2018 Cy Young Award winners proved that the voters within the Baseball Writers Association of America are, in fact, capable of looking past the many variables in baseball that are outside of a pitcher's own control. Mets starter Jacob deGrom winning the honor in the National League was welcomed proof that run support is entirely unnecessary to be crowned baseball's best, and a win/loss record (deGrom was 10-9 in 2018 in his 32 starts) is far from telling. deGrom was hard to look past despite the Mets' 77-85 record last season, and he received all but one of the first place votes.
With 26-year-old Blake Snell winning the American League Cy Young Award, a somewhat unexpected breakout season for a youngster exceeded the continued dominance from some of the game's current greats. Snell became the second Tampa Bay Rays pitcher to ever win a Cy Young (the other was David Price in 2012), beating out a field littered with household names and former Cy Young winners like Justin Verlander, Corey Kluber, Chris Sale, and Gerrit Cole. Though the race was tight, Snell's ridiculous 1.89 ERA—the lowest in the AL since Pedro Martinez's 1.74 ERA in 2000—was too good not to be rewarded.
Can 2019 bring another surprise name to the forefront? Will past winners like Kluber or Clayton Kershaw add another piece of hardware to their mantel? Nationals starter Max Scherzer is looking to join an elite group and become the fifth pitcher ever to win four Cy Young awards in his career. He is already one of 10 pitchers to win it three times. For Red Sox lefty Chris Sale, a Cy Young Award in 2019 would be a first.
Ranked from lowest to highest odds to take home the title, Stacker mined odds from Bovada and stats from Baseball Reference to rank the hurlers that oddsmakers in Las Vegas have pegged as the favorites for the AL and NL Cy Young Award.
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2 / 48AL #23 (tie): Danny Duffy
- Cy Young odds: +6000
- Team: Kansas City Royals
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 8 - 12
--- ERA: 4.88
--- WHIP: 1.490
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.2
Jayne Kamin-Oncea // Getty Images
3 / 48AL #16 (tie): Andrew Heaney
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Los Angeles Angels
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 9 - 10
--- ERA: 4.15
--- WHIP: 1.200
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.0
Hannah Foslien // Getty Images
4 / 48AL #16 (tie): Kyle Gibson
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Minnesota Twins
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 10 - 13
--- ERA: 3.62
--- WHIP: 1.302
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.2
Jason Miller // Getty Images
5 / 48AL #16 (tie): Mike Clevinger
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 13 - 8
--- ERA: 3.02
--- WHIP: 1.155
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.3
Elsa // Getty Images
6 / 48AL #16 (tie): Charlie Morton
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Tampa Bay Rays
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 15 - 3
--- ERA: 3.13
--- WHIP: 1.162
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.8
Tom Szczerbowski // Getty Images
7 / 48AL #16 (tie): Marcus Stroman
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Toronto Blue Jays
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 4 - 9
--- ERA: 5.54
--- WHIP: 1.476
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 6.8
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8 / 48AL #16 (tie): Marco Gonzales
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Seattle Mariners
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 13 - 9
--- ERA: 4.00
--- WHIP: 1.224
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 7.8
Al Bello // Getty Images
9 / 48AL #16 (tie): Eduardo Rodriguez
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 13 - 5
--- ERA: 3.82
--- WHIP: 1.265
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.1
Mike Stobe // Getty Images
10 / 48AL #14 (tie): Nathan Eovaldi
- Cy Young odds: +4000
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 6 - 7
--- ERA: 3.81
--- WHIP: 1.126
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.2
Bob Levey // Getty Images
11 / 48AL #14 (tie): J.A. Happ
- Cy Young odds: +4000
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 17 - 6
--- ERA: 3.65
--- WHIP: 1.131
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.8
Ezra Shaw // Getty Images
12 / 48AL #13: Rick Porcello
- Cy Young odds: +3000
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 17 - 7
--- ERA: 4.28
--- WHIP: 1.176
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.9
Elsa // Getty Images
13 / 48AL #11 (tie): Masahiro Tanaka
- Cy Young odds: +2500
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 12 - 6
--- ERA: 3.75
--- WHIP: 1.128
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.2
Al Bello // Getty Images
14 / 48AL #11 (tie): Jose Berrios
- Cy Young odds: +2500
- Team: Minnesota Twins
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 12 - 11
--- ERA: 3.84
--- WHIP: 1.144
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.5
Sean M. Haffey // Getty Images
15 / 48AL #9 (tie): David Price
- Cy Young odds: +1800
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 16 - 7
--- ERA: 3.58
--- WHIP: 1.142
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.1
Elsa // Getty Images
16 / 48AL #9 (tie): James Paxton
- Cy Young odds: +1800
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 11 - 6
--- ERA: 3.76
--- WHIP: 1.098
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 11.7
Elsa // Getty Images
17 / 48AL #7 (tie): Justin Verlander
- Cy Young odds: +1400
- Team: Houston Astros
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 16 - 9
--- ERA: 2.52
--- WHIP: 0.902
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 12.2
Mike Ehrmann // Getty Images
18 / 48AL #7 (tie): Carlos Carrasco
- Cy Young odds: +1400
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 17 - 10
--- ERA: 3.38
--- WHIP: 1.125
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.8
Tim Bradbury // Getty Images
19 / 48AL #4 (tie): Gerrit Cole
- Cy Young odds: +1200
- Team: Houston Astros
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 15 - 5
--- ERA: 2.88
--- WHIP: 1.033
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 12.4
Julio Aguilar // Getty Images
20 / 48AL #4 (tie): Blake Snell
- Cy Young odds: +1200
- Team: Tampa Bay Rays
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 21 - 5
--- ERA: 1.89
--- WHIP: 0.974
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 11.0
Tim Warner // Getty Images
21 / 48AL #4 (tie): Trevor Bauer
- Cy Young odds: +1200
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 12 - 6
--- ERA: 2.21
--- WHIP: 1.089
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 11.3
Elsa // Getty Images
22 / 48AL #3: Luis Severino
- Cy Young odds: +800
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 19 - 8
--- ERA: 3.39
--- WHIP: 1.145
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.3
Maddie Meyer // Getty Images
23 / 48AL #2: Chris Sale
- Cy Young odds: +450
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 12 - 4
--- ERA: 2.11
--- WHIP: 0.861
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 13.5
Ed Zurga // Getty Images
24 / 48AL #1: Corey Kluber
- Cy Young odds: +375
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 20 - 7
--- ERA: 2.89
--- WHIP: 0.991
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.3
Jamie Sabau // Getty Images
25 / 48NL #24: Jose Quintana
- Cy Young odds: +6600
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 13 - 11
--- ERA: 4.03
--- WHIP: 1.319
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.2
Sean M. Haffey // Getty Images
26 / 48NL #22 (tie): Rich Hill
- Cy Young odds: +6000
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 11 - 5
--- ERA: 3.66
--- WHIP: 1.123
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.2
Justin K. Aller // Getty Images
27 / 48NL #22 (tie): Cole Hamels
- Cy Young odds: +6000
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 9 - 12
--- ERA: 3.78
--- WHIP: 1.264
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.9
Matthew Stockman // Getty Images
28 / 48NL #18 (tie): German Marquez
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Colorado Rockies
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 14 - 11
--- ERA: 3.77
--- WHIP: 1.204
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.6
Kevin C. Cox // Getty Images
29 / 48NL #18 (tie): Mike Foltynewicz
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Atlanta Braves
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 13 - 10
--- ERA: 2.85
--- WHIP: 1.082
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.9
Kevin C. Cox // Getty Images
30 / 48NL #18 (tie): Zack Wheeler
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: New York Mets
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 12 - 7
--- ERA: 3.31
--- WHIP: 1.124
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.8
Justin K. Aller // Getty Images
31 / 48NL #18 (tie): Robbie Ray
- Cy Young odds: +5000
- Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 6 - 2
--- ERA: 3.93
--- WHIP: 1.350
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 12.0
Michael Thomas // Getty Images
32 / 48NL #16 (tie): Jon Lester
- Cy Young odds: +4500
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 18 - 6
--- ERA: 3.32
--- WHIP: 1.310
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 7.4
Jamie Squire // Getty Images
33 / 48NL #16 (tie): Kyle Hendricks
- Cy Young odds: +4500
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 14 - 11
--- ERA: 3.44
--- WHIP: 1.146
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 7.3
Justin K. Aller // Getty Images
34 / 48NL #14 (tie): Chris Archer
- Cy Young odds: +4000
- Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 6 - 8
--- ERA: 4.31
--- WHIP: 1.375
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.8
Justin K. Aller // Getty Images
35 / 48NL #14 (tie): Jameson Taillon
- Cy Young odds: +4000
- Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 14 - 10
--- ERA: 3.20
--- WHIP: 1.178
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.4
Al Bello // Getty Images
36 / 48NL #11 (tie): Stephen Strasburg
- Cy Young odds: +3000
- Team: Washington Nationals
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 10 - 7
--- ERA: 3.74
--- WHIP: 1.200
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.8
Denis Poroy // Getty Images
37 / 48NL #11 (tie): Zack Greinke
- Cy Young odds: +3000
- Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 15 - 11
--- ERA: 3.21
--- WHIP: 1.079
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.6
Jon Durr // Getty Images
38 / 48NL #11 (tie): Miles Mikolas
- Cy Young odds: +3000
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 18 - 4
--- ERA: 2.83
--- WHIP: 1.071
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 6.5
Rob Carr // Getty Images
39 / 48NL #9 (tie): Madison Bumgarner
- Cy Young odds: +2500
- Team: San Francisco Giants
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 6 - 7
--- ERA: 3.26
--- WHIP: 1.242
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 7.6
Norm Hall // Getty Images
40 / 48NL #9 (tie): Patrick Corbin
- Cy Young odds: +2500
- Team: Washington Nationals
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 11 - 7
--- ERA: 3.15
--- WHIP: 1.050
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 11.1
Dustin Bradford // Getty Images
41 / 48NL #7 (tie): Kyle Freeland
- Cy Young odds: +2000
- Team: Colorado Rockies
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 17 - 7
--- ERA: 2.85
--- WHIP: 1.245
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 7.7
Dave Reginek // Getty Images
42 / 48NL #7 (tie): Jack Flaherty
- Cy Young odds: +2000
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 8 - 9
--- ERA: 3.34
--- WHIP: 1.106
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 10.8
Stephen Dunn // Getty Images
43 / 48NL #5 (tie): Noah Syndergaard
- Cy Young odds: +1400
- Team: New York Mets
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 13 - 4
--- ERA: 3.03
--- WHIP: 1.212
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.0
Harry How // Getty Images
44 / 48NL #5 (tie): Walker Buehler
- Cy Young odds: +1400
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 8 - 5
--- ERA: 2.62
--- WHIP: 0.961
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.9
Victor Decolongon // Getty Images
45 / 48NL #4: Clayton Kershaw
- Cy Young odds: +1200
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 9 - 5
--- ERA: 2.73
--- WHIP: 1.041
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 8.6
Hunter Martin // Getty Images
46 / 48NL #3: Aaron Nola
- Cy Young odds: +700
- Team: Philadelphia Phillies
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 17 - 6
--- ERA: 2.37
--- WHIP: 0.975
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 9.5
Jim McIsaac // Getty Images
47 / 48NL #2: Jacob DeGrom
- Cy Young odds: +400
- Team: New York Mets
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 10 - 9
--- ERA: 1.70
--- WHIP: 0.912
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 11.2
Mike Ehrmann // Getty Images
48 / 48NL #1: Max Scherzer
- Cy Young odds: +250
- Team: Washington Nationals
- 2018 season stats:
--- Record: 18 - 7
--- ERA: 2.53
--- WHIP: 0.911
--- Strike outs / 9 innings: 12.2
