The race for the 2026 Cy Young Award looks very different in each league, with a major injury shaking up the American League and a defending champion holding steady in the National League. Here’s a breakdown of the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook as of early May.
**American League Cy Young Odds**
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal entered the season as the heavy favorite to win his third straight Cy Young, but a recent setback has changed everything. Skubal underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his throwing elbow and will be sidelined for months. That opens the door for a new winner.
At the top of the AL board is New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler, who has been dominant through eight starts with a 5-1 record, a 1.52 ERA, 53 strikeouts, and a 0.87 WHIP. Not far behind is his teammate Max Fried, who is 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and a 0.89 WHIP. Other contenders include Dylan Cease (+500), Jose Soriano (+1000), Jacob deGrom (+1100), and Gavin Williams (+1900).
**National League Cy Young Odds**
Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, remains the favorite despite a slightly less dominant start to 2026. Through seven starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Skenes is 4-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 39 strikeouts. Hot on his heels is Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP, who is 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA and 40 strikeouts in seven starts.
The NL odds list also includes Chris Sale (+550), Cristopher Sanchez (+700), Shohei Ohtani (+700, now primarily a hitter but still eligible?), and Jacob Misiorowski (+2000). The battle for the NL Cy Young is shaping up to be a two-man race between Skenes and Yamamoto, but with plenty of season left, others could emerge.
