There are countless candidates who could conceivably make a push to win Pitcher of the Year, the Cy Young Award this year, as we’re watching brilliant starting pitching on a nightly basis around baseball.
With a third of the season done and dusted, we bring you the early favorites to win the award in the American League. Find our predictions below…
American League Contenders
Shane McClanahan +275
American League Cy Young favorite Shane McClanahan is one of the very best pitchers that baseball has to offer. The young stud is having a season of a lifetime. He ranks among the best pitchers in nearly every category, with a league high 1.84 ERA, 105 strikeouts and the best batting average against.
McClanahan averages 96.8 mph on his fastball, putting him in the 93rd percentile, which is all the more impressive considering he pitches from the left side where high velocity is not as common as it is from the right. The Rays have some work to do to make the Playoffs, but if McClanahan can continue his impressive stats, then he’s going to be tough to beat for individual pitching honors. Discover all the latest MLB odds with FanDuel.
Justin Verlander +350
Veteran starter Justin Verlander continues to defy all logic and is dominating like never before. The Houston Astros ace is performing at a level that, on its own, is right up there with anyone in the American League. What’s more incredible is that he’s doing it at age 39 and after a near two-year hiatus thanks to surgery in September 2020. Verlander took home the Cy Young in 2011 and in 2019 and is not showing any signs of slowing down. He could very well be set for a famous third win. Enjoy a risk free first bet up to $1000 with BetMGM.
Alek Manoah +600
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah has been nothing short of spectacular since his big league debut last year. His energy and passion for the game is infectious, and he is posting some remarkable numbers. Manoah so far has a 8-2 record, 2.00 ERA and 73 strikeouts from his 13 starts. The Blue Jays are 10 games over .500 and currently in second place in the American League East behind the Yankees, Manoah will be key to their push for a wild card place.
Nestor Cortes +900
Nestor Cortes has made 12 starts this year and is pitching to a 1.94 ERA, and the Yankees left-hander is striking out 29.7% of the batters he has faced, ranking him in the 85th percentile. The Cuban-born star stands at just 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, specializing in cutters, sliders and changeups, and he relies heavily on his deception to get runners out. Despite throwing softer than most of the top pitchers in the game, Cortes has been dominating his opponents, proving there is more than one way to get outs in the big leagues. His variety and exciting pitching style would make him a very popular winner of the Cy Young Award.
American League Outsiders
Gerrit Cole +1100
Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole has been runner-up for the American League’s Cy Young Award in two of the previous three MLB seasons. After beginning the season by posting a 6.35 ERA and going just 11.1 innings in his first three starts, he has rebounded tremendously. Since then, Cole has pitched 61.9 innings and surrendered just 18 runs. He’s pitched into the seventh inning or longer in seven of his last ten starts. The Yanks are the hottest team in all of MLB this season, and along with Nestor Cortes, Cole is a key part of a talented pitching roster.
Kevin Gausman +1600
Could the Blue Jays have back-to-back Cy Young winners? Last year, Robbie Ray won the pitching honors, yet they decided to let him walk in free agency in favor of signing Kevin Gausman. Gausman signed a five-year deal, and he has made an excellent start to life in Toronto. Along with Alek Manoah he has formed a formidable starting pitching duo. Through 11 starts, Gausman has 80 strikeouts to just seven walks with a 3.21 ERA. Make BetRivers your betting destination this MLB season!
Dylan Cease +2500
White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease has made a solid if unspectacular start to the season. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a winning record of 5-3, an ERA of 2.91, and 97 strikeouts. Chicago currently sits with a losing record, and Cease will need to see improvements from his team and from a personal point-of-view if he has any chance of featuring in the end of the season award picture.
Shane Bieber +2500
Shane Bieber unanimously brought home the 2020 American League Cy Young Award, the first in Cleveland’s club history. This season he is 3-3 with a 3 ERA, 84 strikeouts and 18 walks in his 13 starts. His Guardian team continues to defy expectation and are enjoying an excellent start to the season. They currently stand with a 34-28 record and are just 1 game back from the Twins at the top of the AL Central. It might be a long shot for Bieber to repeat his success of two years ago, but he looks like he is enjoying his baseball and pitching very well again.
Michael Kopech +3000
There were a number of question marks regarding the White Sox starting rotation entering this season. After losing Carlos Rodon in free agency, Michael Kopech was tasked with filling these sizable shoes. So far, Kopech has passed the test with flying colors. He has allowed multiple runs in only four of his 12 starts with a strong 2.38 ERA. He has an even better record when coming up against the best teams in MLB: he’s compiled four starts against the Twins, Yankees (twice) and the Dodgers, finishing with a 1.13 ERA in those games.
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