Cy Young Odds 2023: McClanahan Rises to the Top as AL Favorite

Let's check in on the Cy Young race with our 2023 MLB Cy Young odds based on the best MLB futures odds from our best sports betting apps.

You're forgiven if offense comes to mind first when thinking about the Tampa Bay Rays and their dominance. They sit atop nearly every major offensive statistical category, after all, sometimes with a massive gap before the second-place club.

But Shane McClanahan is here to make you think just a little longer about Tampa's all-around soul-crushing ways.

As his team continues to rise, so does the nasty southpaw on the Cy Young oddsboard, pushing aside the likes of Gerrit Cole and Shohei Ohtani. The AL race has the makings of a three-horse marathon, while the NL Cy Young fight is shaping up to be a two-way battle for months.

Here is our look at the best 2023 Cy Young odds in the American and National Leagues (odds via our best MLB betting sites).

Check out our MLB odds and best bets.

American League Cy Young odds 2023

MLB 2023 National League Cy Young odds as of Wednesday, May 31 at 2 p.m. ET.

Check out our 2023 World Series Odds.

AL Cy Young odds analysis

The only significant gap among our best live betting sites for the top contenders lies in the odds for Ohtani, who's also a strong candidate in the 2023 MLB MVP odds. Barstool is giving the hitting and pitching lab creation a rogue price of +900, while the rest of our best sports betting sites are around +600 to +700.

There's a similar divide with Kevin Gausman, as Barstool is sitting at +1700,  and DraftKings is far shorter at +1200. The most notable separation surfaces when looking at McClanahan, who's +400 through Caesars Sportsbook and +600 at three other books.

If you're seeking a dark horse and are impressed with George Kirby's recent dazzling performances, pounce on Barstool's offering again. That sportsbook is far ahead generally in this market, but especially with Kirby at +2500 compared to the +1800 Caesars and BetMGM are featuring.

AL Cy Young odds movement

McClanahan is the most significant riser since May 16 after going from around +600 to as short as +350. He's well ahead of Ohtani on the AL oddsboard, and the only pitcher listed below +400.

Framber Valdez is making a move further down the board, going from as long as +2100 to +1200 now through FanDuel. Kirby is shifting toward the bottom too, moving from +3500 at Caesars to +1800 now.

AL Cy Young odds 2023: Favorite

Shane McClanahan (+375 via Barstool)

McClanahan has been nearly untouchable while producing a 2.07 ERA over his first 12 starts, the third-best mark in MLB. He notched three shutouts during that stellar run and seven outings with seven-plus strikeouts.

AL Cy Young odds 2023: Contender

Kevin Gausman (+1600 via Barstool)

When he's bad, Gausman has been really bad. But those atrocious outings are becoming tiny potholes on an otherwise smooth road to Cy Young consideration.

Gausman has allowed 23 earned runs through his 11 starts and 75 innings in 2023, and 15 have come over just two outings. He's absurdly posted six scoreless appearances and four with 11-plus strikeouts.

Check out our 2023 rookie of the year odds.

AL Cy Young odds 2023: Long shot

George Kirby (+2500 via Barstool)

Kirby's command has been nearly flawless. He's never walked many batters, but now his BB/9 is down to a minuscule 0.76. He's issued an astounding six walks over 71 innings. His shining gem is an eight-inning shutout of the New York Yankees while allowing only three hits and striking out seven batters.

Check out our 2023 MLB home run leader odds.

AL Cy Young odds 2023: Fade

Nathan Eovaldi (+1800 via DraftKings)

Eovaldi could very well put together a quality season, just as he did in the not-so-distant past in 2021 before finishing fourth in Cy Young voting. But Eovaldi's FIP as of June 1 is a minuscule 2.53, which is on another continent compared to his 4.30 in 2022, and even his career 3.75. He's a prime regression candidate.

Recent AL Cy Young winners

Odds from SportsOddsHistory.com.

National League Cy Young odds 2023

MLB 2023 National League Cy Young odds as of Wednesday, May 31 at 2 p.m. ET.

NL Cy Young odds analysis

There aren't many gaps between the books here, though if you really want to back Strider at this short price, be sure to grab the +250 through Barstool. That's still not appealing, but more so than his +200 elsewhere.

The most notable chasm lies in the middle of the board. If you're a Zack Wheeler supporter, halt everything in your life to get the +2700 through FanDuel. He's as short as +1500 at DraftKings.

NL Cy Young odds movement

Strider and Gallen are still sprinting away from the rest. That especially applies to the latter now, as a few books were listing Gallen at +300 on May 16. Now he's right with Strider and not trading above +250.

Mitch Keller has skyrocketed up the board after not even being listed on May 16. Now he's shoved aside Clayton Kershaw while posting a 2.86 FIP, and he's one of only four hurlers being priced at or below +1500 on the NL side.

Meanwhile, Sandy Alcantara continues his plunge. The defending NL Cy Young winner was still sitting as short as +1200 in mid May, but he's off the board and commonly at +5000 at the end of the month.

NL Cy Young odds 2023: Favorite

Spencer Strider (+250 via Barstool)

Strider remains unfair. The 24-year-old has already recorded a comical 106 strikeouts over 62 2/3 innings as of June 1, leading to an astronomical 15.0 K/9.

NL Cy Young odds 2023: Contender

Clayton Kershaw (+1300 via FanDuel)

There will always be injury worries tied to the 35-year-old Kershaw, and the Los Angeles Dodgers could limit his innings enough that his Cy Young chances will dwindle. But he's in vintage form for now after recording a 3.32 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over his 11 starts.

NL Cy Young odds 2023: Long shot

Kodai Senga (+15000 via Caesars)

There have been some bumps on the road for Senga, as is the case with anyone attached to odds this long. The rookie is finding his way and has allowed four-plus earned runs three times.

But he's starting to adapt well as the calendar flips to June, an adjustment that translated to two shutout outings in May. His knee-buckling ghost fork pitch has also led to three one-run appearances, and perhaps most impressively, 12 strikeouts against the bulldozing Rays offense.

NL Cy Young odds 2023: Fade

Justin Steele (+4000 via FanDuel)

Steele is a late-bloomer at 27 years old, but in April he planted the seed for a standout season nonetheless while producing a 1.49 ERA. But that ballooned to 3.98 in May, largely due to two outings when the Chicago Cubs lefty coughed up five earned runs.

His lack of strikeouts is concerning too, as more balls in play with the shift outlawed can lead to an increase in traffic on the base paths. Steele is averaging just 7.7 K/9.

Recent NL Cy Young winners

Odds from SportsOddsHistory.com.

MLB Cy Young FAQs

When will the Cy Young winners be announced?

While there's no set date right now, the Cy Young winners are usually announced in mid November, along with all the other award recipients. The 2022 Cy Young winners were named on Nov. 16.

How does the Cy Young voting work?

The Cy Young awards are given out based on the voting from members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Writers from NL cities vote for the NL Cy Young, and the same is true for AL writers. In total, there are 30 votes tied to each award, with one representative from each team.

Writers submit their ballots before the beginning of the posteason. They rank their top-five selections, and points are given in descending order (first place gets seven points, second place gets four, third place gets three, fourth place gets two, and fifth place gets one). The player with the most points wins. In the event of a tie, the award is shared. 

Who won the Cy Young awards in 2022?

Verlander won his third career Cy Young Award in the American League. He's now one of just 11 pitchers to be given the honor three-plus times.

Alcantara won his first Cy Young in the National League after posting a 2.28 ERA.

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