Baseball fans, get ready—the National League Cy Young race is shaping up to be an absolute thriller. From young phenoms to seasoned veterans, the early favorites are a who's who of MLB's biggest arms. Let's break down the contenders who are already making their case for the game's top pitching honor.
Leading the pack is none other than Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Paul Skenes (+210). After claiming his first Cy Young in 2025, Skenes is chasing back-to-back awards with another dominant start to the season. He's posted a 5-2 record, a stellar 2.36 ERA, 46 strikeouts, and a league-leading 0.71 WHIP. That's elite company. But there's a catch: Skenes has been limited in innings early on, with several outings ending before the fifth frame. If he can build up his workload, the sky's the limit for this young ace.
Hot on Skenes' heels is Philadelphia Phillies lefty Cristopher Sanchez (+390). Sanchez has been on fire, tossing two consecutive dominant starts where he allowed zero runs and just nine hits over 15 innings. That stretch pushed his record to 4-2, while his 67 strikeouts rank second in all of baseball. With a 2.11 ERA—good for eighth in the majors—Sanchez is proving why the Phillies locked him up with a six-year extension before the season. He's delivering in a big way.
Don't count out the reigning champ. Atlanta Braves veteran Chris Sale (+500) is off to another scorching start at age 37. With a 6-2 record, Sale leads baseball in quality starts (seven) and ranks near the top in ERA (2.20, 11th), strikeouts (57, 10th), and WHIP (0.88, 4th). The big question? Durability. Sale hasn't pitched more than 158 innings in a season since 2018—except for that one year he did, he took home Cy Young honors. If he stays healthy, he's a force to be reckoned with.
And then there's Shohei Ohtani (+700). The three-time MVP is doing what he does best—dominating on the mound while making history at the plate. In six starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani boasts a microscopic 0.97 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 37 innings. He's looked virtually unhittable at times. Like Sale, his usage will be key—Ohtani has never been a full-time starter over a full season. But if he gets the innings, he could add another trophy to his already crowded case.
The NL Cy Young race is wide open, and these four aces are just getting started. Whether you're rooting for the young gun, the crafty lefty, the veteran warrior, or the two-way marvel, one thing's for sure: this is going to be a season to remember. Stay tuned—and gear up for greatness.