We’re in the infancy stages of the 2026 MLB season, and a handful of starting pitchers have seen noticeable odds movement in the Cy Young markets.
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes didn’t escape the first inning in his 2026 debut, while Toronto Blue Jays strikeout artist Dylan Cease fanned 12 in his opening start north of the border.
Here’s a look at the early-season MLB Cy Young odds following the first week of action.
Cy Young overreactions and early picks for 2026
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Dylan Cease
George Kirby
Early American League Cy Young pick + overreaction
AL Cy Young overreaction: Dylan Cease's Ks won't sway voters from ho-hum ratios
Striking out 12 batters in your team debut will garner attention, and it also cut the AL Cy Young odds in half for Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease.
The strikeout artist finished second in AL Cy Young voting in 2022, and Cease also paced the majors in strikeouts per nine innings (11.5) last year.
That said, I’m skeptical he can limit the damage in the AL East enough to pair strong ratios with an elite strikeout total. After all, Cease has posted a solid but unspectacular 4.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 3.69 xFIP across 534 1/3 innings over the past three years.
Dylan Cease odds to win AL Cy Young: +1500 at FanDuel
AL Cy Young pick: George Kirby's case to enter chat
Despite injuries and inconsistency, Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby has still posted a respectable 3.52 xFIP, along with the lowest BB% in baseball and the fourth-highest WAR among American League arms over the past three years.
Kirby also benefits from calling T-Mobile Park home, one of the more pitcher-friendly environments in the league. There’s no questioning his arsenal, and he topped 190 innings in both 2023 and 2024, so durability is on his side for a potential bounce-back in 2026.
He’s currently priced for profit, and in a volatile betting market, Kirby stands out as a great long shot entering his prime.
George Kirby odds to win AL Cy Young: +2000 at FanDuel
Current AL Cy Young odds & favorites
Tarik Skubal
Garrett Crochet
Max Fried
Hunter BrownEarly National League Cy Young pick + overreaction
NL Cy Young overreaction: Jacob Misiorowski's brewing potential capped by caution
Any value in Jacob Misiorowski’s Cy Young odds vanished as quickly as Chicago White Sox hitters retreated to the dugout in his season opener.
Misiorowski fanned 11 while allowing one run across five innings to earn his first win of the season. The Milwaukee Brewers hurler dazzled at the start of his big-league run last summer, and the trajectory is pointing straight up for the 23-year-old.
The only issue in this awards market is workload. Misiorowski topped out at 129 1/3 innings across the majors and Triple-A last year, and the Brew Crew will want their rising star fresh for the stretch run and potentially the postseason.
Simply put, Misiorowski isn’t likely to have the counting stats to match the National League’s top arms in 2026.
Jacob Misiorowski odds to win NL Cy Young: +1600 at FanDuel
NL Cy Young pick: Paul Skenes showing value after singing Big Apple blues
While there wasn’t a massive market adjustment after Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Paul Skenes was humbled in his 2026 debut, the reigning NL Cy Young winner is no longer the betting favorite.
That shift is enough to take a long look at adding Skenes to your portfolio, given his statistical dominance since entering the league.
In addition to leading the NL in ERA and WHIP over the past two years, Skenes also ranks in the top two in strikeout rate, xFIP, and WAR.
This may also be the longest price you’ll see on the Pirates’ ace in 2026, with added narrative upside if he pushes Pittsburgh into the postseason conversation.
Paul Skenes odds to win NL Cy Young: +400 at FanDuel
Current NL Cy Young odds & favorites
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
 Cristopher Sanchez |
+300 |
 Paul Skenes |
+400 |
 Yoshinobu Yamamoto |
+550 |
 Chris Sale |
+800 |
 Jacob Misiorowski |
+1600 |
More MLB odds and picks from Covers
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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