This 2025 NL Cy Young Award Winner Odds, Analysis, & Prediction will look at the latest futures betting numbers and break down five pitchers in the Junior Circuit who have a decent chance to win this prestigious award. Last year, the Braves’ Chris Sale won the NL Cy Young award, and this year, oddsmakers have Pirates sensation Paul Skenes as the prohibitive favorite. So who are the favorites in this market, and are there any longshots worth a look? Let’s grab the rosin bag and examine.
2025 NL Cy Young Award Winner Odds
- Paul Skenes, Pirates +210
- Zack Wheeler, Phillies +600
- Blake Snell, Dodgers +1500
- Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks +1600
- Hunter Greene, Reds +2000
- Christopher Sánchez, Phillies +2000
- Sandy Alcántara, Marlins +2000
- Spencer Schwellenbach, Braves +2000
- Chris Sale, Braves +2000
- Dylan Cease, Padres +2500
- Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers +2500
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers +2500
- Spencer Strider, Braves +2500
- Michael King, Padres +3000
- Logan Webb, Giants +3500
- Shota Imanaga, Cubs +3500
- Sonny Gray, Cardinals +4500
- Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks +4500
- Mackenzie Gore, Nationals +4500
- Robbie Ray, Giants +4500
- Jesús Luzardo, Phillies +5000
- Freddy Peralta, Brewers +6000
- Kodai Senga, Mets +6000
- Justin Steele, Cubs +7000
- Nick Pivetta, Padres +7000
- Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks +7000
- Aaron Nola, Phillies +9000
- Nick Lodolo, Reds +10000
- Brandon Woodruff, Brewers +10000
- Clay Holmes, Mets +1000
- Rōki Sasaki, Dodgers +10000
- Antonio Senzatela, Rockies +10000
Paul Skenes, Pirates (+210)
In his rookie year for Pittsburgh last season, RHP Skenes was absolutely brilliant, going 11-3 with 170 strikeouts, a 1.96 ERA, and an amazing 0.95 WHIP. The first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft was rewarded with the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Award, and his starts became must-watch TV. A 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB debut patch autograph rookie card of Skenes recently went for $1.1 million at an auction. Nothing big.
But we are analyzing futures odds and not baseball cards in this corner of Cyberspace brother. Despite his greatness, it seems there are three problems here. The initial favorite in this market seldom stays that way and seldom wins. The price (+210) isn’t worth the long wait, and what it probably should be (+300 or more), and he plays for the Pirates.
Zack Wheeler, Phillies (6/1)
Philadelphia (10/1 to win 2025 World Series) has a great starting staff with Aaron Nola (90/1 to win 2025 NL Cy Young Award), Jesus Luzardo (50/1), Christopher Sánchez (20/1) and Ranger Suárez, but it is Zack Wheeler who is the staff’s ace and No 1. starter. Last season, RHP Wheeler (6-4, 195) went 16-7 with 224 strikeouts, a 2,57 ERA, and a 0.96 WHIP.
Although he didn’t get the decision in his first start for the Phillies on Opening Day, he gave up just 2 hits and 1 ER, and the 34-year-old veteran will be a tough draw for all opponents from April to October. And playing for Philadelphia may give him a better shot at winning this award when all is said and done. Remember that this NL Cy Young award comes from a vote of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).
Blake Snell, Dodgers (15/1)
Dodgers Southpaw Blake Snell will be looking for his third Cy Young Award on three different teams this season. Snell won the award for the first time hurling for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, where he led the Senior Circuit in Wins and ERA. Traded to the Padres, Snell won his second Cy Young Award in 2023, going 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts. The defending World Series champions wisely signed Snell in the offseason to a 5-year, $182 million pact, so this loaded staff has a new ace with Shohei Ohtani waiting to pitch later this spring.
In his first start for his new team on Thursday, Snell defeated the Tigers (5-4) and allowed 5 hits and 2 ER with 4 walks and just 2 strikeouts. Maybe not the ideal statistical start, but Snell got the W. With a 6-0 start, it seems this team may have a bunch of starters fighting for this award, so keep your eye on four of them, Bubba.
Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks (16/1)
Like Snell, Burnes will be pitching for a new club this season after leaving Baltimore in the offseason. With guys like New Kid In The Sonoran Desert Burnes, Zac Gallen (45/1), Brandon Pfaadt (70/1), Merrill Kelly, and Eduardo Rodríguez, the Diamondbacks (33/1) seem like the best longshot to stop Los Doyers and maybe win the 2025 World Series. Burnes went 15-9 with 181 strikeouts, a 2.92 ERA, and a 1.10 WHIP with the Orioles last season.
The 6-foot-3. 195-pound RHP will be making his first start for Arizona at historic Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night when the Snakes are in the Bronx for Game 1 of a 3-game Interleague series (TBS, 7:05 EDT/4:05 PDT). Can Burnes solve the torpedo bats?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (25/1), Rōki Sasaki (100/1), Dodgers
We need a couple of young Japanese longshots to back in the futures market and the defending World Series champions won’t let us down. On a stellar staff that has the aforementioned Snell and Ohtani, club legend Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, and Tyler Glasnow (25/1), RHPs Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2, 3.00 ERA 1.11 WHIP in 2024) and rookie Rōki Sasaki are where your money should be in this market. Why? It’s a long season, and these two will want to prove their worth and immense talents. Konnichiwa.
In his first start, Yamaoto won against the Cubs in his native Japan, and he already has 14 strikeouts in the NL. And despite two perceived shaky outings (4.2 IP in 2 GS), Sasaki is worth a shot at 100/1. The 23-year-old RHP, dubbed the “Monster of the Reiwa Era” in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, has allowed 4 hits, 3 ER, and allowed 9 walks.
He was seen dismayed on social media in the Dodgers dugout on Sunday. This kid will learn not to walk batters, grow like all (starting) pitchers do, learn from his teammates, and one day be a star. Don’t sleep on these two. These kids are the real deal.
Final Thoughts and NL Cy Young Winner Pick
It is obvious Skenes should be the favorite here, but even though it seems the Dodgers staff may be fighting each other for this award and not get as many Starts as they would if they were on other NL pitching staffs, it seems the winner will come from the defending MLB champions.
Snell is actually a great pick at these current 15/1 odds, and throwing $5 or $10 pizza money on the rookie Sasaki (+490 to win NL Rookie of the Year) seems worth the longshot bet in this sports betting market. Turning $10 into $1,000 would make you look like a genius and give you bragging rights for life. But it seems the real value may be backing Yamamoto, who could win 15 or more games, have 300 strikeouts, and have a great playoff in leading the Dodgers to a repeat World Series win.
Final Pick for the Cy Young Award
Yoshinobu Yamamoto +2500
