MLB Cy Young Odds 2026 Betting Preview: AL & NL Cy Young Predictions

2026 NL Cy Young Odds

As of September 8, Misiorowski (-750) has emerged as the overwhelming favorite in the updated 2026 NL Cy Young odds, with the Brewers right-hander sitting at -750 after a dominant breakout campaign. Those odds translate to an implied probability of 88.2%, making Misiorowski the clear pitcher to beat as the race enters its decisive stage.

The closest challenger is Braves’ veteran Chris Sale (+550), though he remains a significant distance behind Misiorowski on the odds board with a 15.4% implied probability. Phillies’ left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (+4000) follows, while Dodgers’ ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto (+6600) has the longest odds to win the NL Cy Young, despite entering the season as one of the early favorites at +500.

With such a substantial gap separating Misiorowski from the rest of the field, the updated odds suggest this has become his award to lose. Sale remains the only realistic challenger at the top of the market, but Misiorowski’s historic season has made him the overwhelming favorite to capture his first NL Cy Young Award.

2026 AL Cy Young Odds

Schlittler (-550) has separated himself from the field in the latest 2026 AL Cy Young odds, with the Yankees right-hander now priced at -550. That makes him an overwhelming favorite and reflects the impact of his breakout season as he continues to establish himself as one of the American League’s premier starters.

Dylan Cease (+350) is the only pitcher within realistic striking distance, with +350 representing a 22.2% implied chance. The Blue Jays’ ace has put together a strong campaign of his own, but the strong AL Cy Young odds gap shows just how firmly Schlittler has taken control of the race. Cease remains the clear alternative, but he will need a strong finish to close the gap.

The market falls off considerably after the top two. Drew Rasmussen (+9000) and Sonny Gray (+9000) share long odds to win, while Guardians’ teammates Gavin Williams (+12500) and Parker Messick (+12500) are even longer. With none of those pitchers receiving meaningful support from the odds market, the AL race has effectively become a two-horse battle.

Jacob Misorowski (-750)

Misiorowski has gone from an intriguing young arm to the overwhelming favorite in the NL Cy Young race. The Brewers’ right-hander is now priced at -750, putting him well ahead of Sale and the rest of the National League field. At that price, the market is making a clear statement: Misiorowski is the pitcher to beat.

The 24-year-old has backed up those odds with an outstanding first full season in Milwaukee’s rotation. Through 26 starts, Misiorowski owns a 14-5 record with a 1.97 ERA and an incredible 0.79 WHIP across 155 innings. He has also piled up 227 strikeouts, giving him an elite 13.2 K/9 rate. Opposing hitters are batting just .155 against him this season.

Jacob Misiorowski has executed his pitches better than anyone in baseball this season, a 119 proPitching+ to go with a 1.97 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 227 strikeouts in 155 innings. Chris Sale is next at 115, George Kirby at 112. pic.twitter.com/ojV20O21Yd

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) September 7, 2026

Misiorowski has also produced some remarkable individual performances. In June, he struck out 15 Phillies while allowing just one hit in a shutout, reaching 104.5 mph and setting a record for the most strikeouts in a sub-100-pitch shutout since pitch counts began being tracked in 1988.

The biggest question entering the season was whether Misiorowski could maintain his overpowering stuff over a full starter’s workload. He has answered that emphatically. His 155 innings and 227 strikeouts have removed much of the workload concern, while his 14-5 record gives him the win total that can help separate him from other elite pitchers.

The Brewers have also been one of baseball’s best teams, entering September 8 with an 89-56 record. That gives Misiorowski a strong supporting cast and plenty of opportunities to add to his win total down the stretch.

At -750, the moneyline obviously offers little value. However, Misiorowski’s combination of a sub-2.00 ERA, elite strikeout rate, and 14 wins makes the price understandable.

Chris Sale (+550)

Sale is the biggest threat to Jacob Misiorowski in the NL Cy Young race, with the Braves veteran currently carrying the second-shortest odds to win the Cy Young at +550.

The 37-year-old left-hander has delivered another excellent season in Atlanta, posting a 14-9 record with a 2.10 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 184 strikeouts across 150 innings. Those numbers put him firmly among the National League’s elite pitchers, although Misiorowski has the statistical edge in several key categories.

Where Sale has really strengthened his Cy Young case is with his recent form. He has been outstanding since the All-Star break, striking out 67 batters against only four walks over 52 innings while allowing just one home run. That dominance down the stretch could be particularly important if Sale continues to close the statistical gap on Misiorowski.

COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT FOR CHRIS SALE 👏 pic.twitter.com/e0knrAp8GD

— MLB (@MLB) August 28, 2026

He is a former Cy Young winner and has consistently demonstrated an ability to handle pressure and heavy workloads throughout his career. That being said, he appears to be running out of time.

If Sale had another couple of months to continue to close the gap, then I could see him sneaking in to take his second Cy Young after winning in 2024. There is less than a month left remaining in the season and it’s unlikely to leave enough room to catch up, however.

Cam Schlittler (-550)

Schlittler has firmly established himself as the pitcher to beat in the American League Cy Young race, with the Yankees right-hander now sitting at -550. The price reflects an incredible breakout season, but Schlittler’s recent form is a major reason he has separated himself from Cease and the rest of the field.

Through 29 starts, Schlittler is 12-6 with a 2.04 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 210 strikeouts across 171.2 innings. He has also posted an impressive 11.0 K/9 and 5.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio, while his 6.4 WAR leads all American League pitchers, according to ESPN.

He’s been on a red-hot tear recently, allowing one or fewer runs in each of his last five starts and seven of his last eight. Over his last five outings, he owns a 1.33 ERA across 32 innings with 39 strikeouts. His latest performance was particularly impressive, as he held the Angels to one run on two hits over eight innings while striking out nine without issuing a walk.

Cam Schlittler has retired the last 15 batters! pic.twitter.com/V53qUUdPRz

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 3, 2026

Consistency has become Schlittler’s biggest advantage. He has allowed one run or fewer in a Major League-best 19 starts this season, setting a new Yankees single-season record and surpassing legends including Ron Guidry and Whitey Ford.

At -550, there is not much value left in the price, but the dominance is difficult to argue with. With his recent surge, top WAR, and season-long consistency, Schlittler is clearly the AL Cy Young favorite and the pitcher to beat.

Dylan Cease (+350)

Dylan Cease is the biggest challenger to Cam Schlittler in the AL Cy Young race, with the Blue Jays right-hander sitting at +350. While Schlittler has separated himself at the top of the odds board, Cease has put together an impressive season and remains the most realistic threat to take the award away from the Yankees ace.

Cease has been one of the American League’s most dominant strikeout pitchers, recording 227 punchouts through 27 starts for second in MLB. He also owns a 10-5 record, 2.40 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 5.8 WAR across 161.1 innings. His ability to consistently miss bats gives him a major advantage in the Cy Young race.

Dylan Cease has recorded at least 7 Ks in 19 consecutive starts!

The last pitcher to do that in a single season was Randy Johnson in 2001 😯 pic.twitter.com/1gWJNjNuq6

— MLB (@MLB) August 29, 2026

There is one recent concern worth monitoring, however. Cease has acknowledged that his velocity is down, with his fastball recently sitting around 93-94 mph compared with the 97-98 mph range it typically reaches. That is something to watch over his final starts, particularly with Schlittler dominating down the stretch.

The good news is that Cease has continued producing despite the dip. He shut out Cleveland over six innings on September 2, allowing four hits while striking out four and walking nobody. At +350, Cease offers a bigger payout over Schlittler, but he doesn’t have many starts left to make up ground for the AL Cy Young.