MLB Awards: Who Will Emerge From a Crowded AL to Win the 2023 Cy Young

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By:
Michael Savio
06/06/2023
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Highlights

  • The Rays’ Shane McClanahan is the current favorite at +310
  • Framber Valdez posted a quality start in all four of his losses
  • Gerrit Cole has given up 11 runs over his last two May starts

We are now two months into the season, and it seems clear that the AL features a crowded field for the coveted Cy Young award. While it is still early, US sportsbooks are already seeing this race as coming down to three pitchers. That means this group still has some valuable odds, so now is the time to get your MLB future bet in.

If you are looking for help betting on the 2023 AL Cy Young winner, you have come to the right place. We’ll be breaking down the top three candidates, reviewing their season so far and prospects for the rest of the year. We’ll provide odds, stats, and everything else you need to bet with confidence.

Without further ado, we present the top three betting favorites for this year’s AL Cy Young award.

Shane McClanahan (+310 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

The Ray’s ace is off to historic start in 2023 with a 9-1 record and 2.02 ERA. The 26-year-old benefits from playing behind one of the best offenses in baseball, but he really hasn’t needed it. The young pitcher has been electric, limiting hits and striking out a ton of batters. McClanahan has built on his breakout 2022 campaign to quickly become one of the top pitchers in all of baseball.

We love McClanahan’s chances to win his first Cy Young award this season. He plays for a World Series favorite in the Rays, and he has been great against the best teams in the league. That will be key for the remainder of the season, as the AL East seems to have five of the best teams in baseball, meaning competition for the title will be fierce. If McClanahan can keep this up and the Rays win the AL East, I’m not sure if anyone else can beat him out for the Cy young.

Gerrit Cole (+550 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

At 32-years-old, Gerrit Cole is having one of the best seasons of his career. The former Cy Young winner is 7-0 with a 2.82 ERA as he leads a great Yankees team. While his record remains perfect, Cole did struggle to close out May. In his final two starts of the month he allowed 11 runs over 11 innings. That boosted his ERA by 80 points and caused his Cy Young odds to take a hit. However, Cole was great against the Dodgers in his first start of June, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. 

While Cole has looked great, we are avoiding this bet at this point in the season. His 7-0 record is deceiving, as the powerful Yankee offense has covered up some of his worst outings. However, Cole could have a chance to turn that around down the stretch. Like McClanahan, he too is in a loaded AL East and will be making some crucial starts in nationally televised games. Being in a Yankee uniform will help too, but we’ll see if he can maintain his impressive numbers over the next month.

Framber Valdez (+750 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

We love this bet considering where Valdez’s odds currently sit. The Astros ace has been fantastic in 2023, going 6-4 with a 2.16 ERA. Houston’s offense struggled for much of the season, costing Valdez a lot of wins. In fact, all four of his losses were quality starts. The Astros bats have come alive over the last few weeks, meaning Valdez could be adding a lot of wins in June. He is off to a great start in his first game of the month, getting a win against the Angels by throwing seven scoreless innings.

We love this bet for a few reasons. The first is the revitalized Houston offense, as that will boost his win total. Another is his 1.03 WHIP, showing that he has been limiting hits and walks all season. Keeping runners off the bases will always translate into a low ERA, which could help him close ground on McClanahan. If you’re looking for an MLB future bet with favorable odds, this could be perfect.

Michael is an avid sports fan and a veteran bettor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He learned the trade from his grandfather in Las Vegas as a kid. As an adult, Michael started picking games for a small sports betting site and has built it into a career. His experience allows him to provide tips and information to help other bettors improve their game. Michael cheers for all Wisconsin pro teams, the Arizona State Sun Devils (his alma mater), and the Ottawa Senators. He specializes in baseball betting but has extensive experience in football, basketball, and hockey. When he isn’t pouring over stats, he’s spending time with his two young children or hiking and enjoying the outdoors.