The NL Cy Young odds tell a similar story to last year when it comes to picking a winner. Reigning award holder, Corbin Burnes, led the majors with 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings and 6.88 strikeouts to walks, yet bettors are looking elsewhere in 2022. So which pitchers are capturing the imagination (and wallet) of betting enthusiasts around the country?
Let’s take a look at some new BetMGM betting favorites and find out.
NL Cy Young Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Max Scherzer | New York Mets | +700 |
| Corbin Burnes | Milwaukee Brewers | +700 |
| Walker Buehler | Los Angeles Dodgers | +900 |
| Logan Webb | San Francisco Giants | +1300 |
| Sandy Alcantara | Miami Marlins | +1600 |
| Zack Wheeler | Philadelphia Phillies | +1600 |
| Brandon Woodruff | Milwaukee Brewers | +1800 |
| Jacob deGrom | New York Mets | +2000 |
| Aaron Nola | Philadelphia Phillies | +2000 |
| Max Fried | Atlanta Braves | +2000 |
NL Cy Young odds and betting data via BetMGM as of April 29, 2022.
Walker Buehler: Los Angeles Dodgers (+900)
Buehler was a force to be reckoned with last year. His 16-4 record and 2.47 ERA were extremely impressive, but not enough for him to break into the finalists’ category for the award.
This year, however, people are betting heavily on Buehler to have a monster season and win the NL Cy Young. BetMGM reports 13.6 percent of tickets have gone Buehler’s way so far. That’s significantly more than Giants’ ace Logan Webb who stands in second with 8.7 percent of bet slips.
The Dodgers flamethrower is also off to a hot start this season posting a 2.55 ERA through his first four starts. Keep in mind, Corbin Burnes won the NL Cy Young with an ERA of 2.43 last season. Food for thought for betting enthusiasts.
Jacob deGrom: New York Mets (+2000)
Some call the Mets ace the best pitcher of all time. The current odds only reflect deGrom’s chance after injuries have plagued the near-prime of his career. It would be much easier to believe that deGrom opened the season at +350, which are some of the most favored odds you will see a player have to win a major award.
Bettors clearly still have hope though. 16.6 percent of handle has gone deGrom’s way so far, making him the overwhelming favorite in that category. The next highest is Walker Buehler at 9.5 percent, who as we already have heard, has a legitimate chance to win the award himself.
deGrom won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2018 and 2019, putting him on a legendary list of pitchers like Randy Johnson, Roger Clemons, Tim Lincecum, and more names you could instantly recognize. The question now becomes: A) Can he live up to that reputation? B) Can he come through even though injuries have crept into his star-studded career?
Recent reports that deGrom will get back to pitching in mid-to-late May, and ticket holders certainly hope that timeline doesn’t move back.
Ranger Suarez: Philadelphia Phillies (+8000)
Now for the curious case of a pitcher who did not even crack the top 10 list for the NL Cy Young odds: Ranger Suarez. Even though his opening odds wouldn’t turn any heads at +20,000 — the lefty now stands at a somewhat respectable +8,000. That’s some serious line movement!
However, the fact that he stands in seventh with 4.8% of bets placed, and fourth at 8.2 percent of total money put down makes Suarez BetMGM’s biggest liability to win this year’s most prestigious pitching award.
Suarez would truly be coming out of the blue if you look at those odds. But if you take a closer look at the numbers, Suarez posted an impressive 1.36 ERA overall as a relief pitcher and starter last year. He was a jack of all trades for the Phillies and appears to be off to a solid start this season with a 2-0 record.