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Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
MLB Cy Young Odds, Best Bets: Tarik Skubal Heavily Favored In AL
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is currently heavily favored to become the first back-to-back American League Cy Young award winner since Pedro Martinez in 2000. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is currently heavily favored to become the first back-to-back American League Cy Young award winner since Pedro Martinez in 2000. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As the first full, post-All Star break week of the MLB season continues, Newsweek's look at the odds to win the biggest regular-season awards in baseball continues today with a breakdown of the Cy Young races. Fortunately for bettors interested in these markets, there's plenty of intrigue in both the AL and the NL (particularly in the latter) There's no need for any further throat-clearing here -- below are where both the AL Cy Young and NL Cy Young races stand, as of July 24. American League Cy Young Odds FanDuel ESPN BET Tarik Skubal -330 -240 Garrett Crochet +250 +230 Jacob DeGrom +1600 +1500 Hunter Brown +3000 +1800 With Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.19 ERA over 127.2 IP) listed at shorter than -200 at both ESPN BET and FanDuel, there's little doubt about who would win the 2025 AL Cy Young Award if the season ended today. Skubal, 28, received all 30 first-place votes for AL Cy Young last year after going 18-4, with a 2.39 ERA. Somehow, he has been even better this year -- and if he keeps his ERA anywhere near 2.19, it's hard to imagine anyone overtaking him for this award. It should be noted, though, that after Chris Sale (2.38) and Skubal (2.39) were the only players to finish 2024 with an ERA under 2.50, there are currently nine MLB pitchers with an ERA under 2.50. That list includes Skubal's top AL Cy Young threats: Boston's Garrett Crochet (2.19 ERA) and Texas's Jacob DeGrom (2.28 ERA). Statistically, picking between Skubal and Crochet is a matter of splitting hairs right now -- with one key exception -- as you can see below. Tarik Skubal vs. Garrett Crochet Statistical Comp. (as of 7/24) Record (IP) ERA Strikeouts (SO/9) BB BB/9 SO/BB WAR Tarik Skubal 10-3 (127.2) 2.19 164 (11.6) 16 1.1 10.25 4.9 Garrett Crochet 11-4 (135.1) 2.19 165 (11.0) 36 2.4 4.58 4.4 Both Skubal and Crochet have posted remarkable numbers across the board, but Skubal's remarkable ability to avoid walking batters is the difference. While Skubal is en route to his third straight season with a BB/9 of 2.0 or fewer, Crochet -- who gave up 2.0 BB/9 in 2024 -- is allowing 2.4 walks per nine innings. AL Cy Young Best Bet: Stay Away, Or Take Favorite Tarik Skubal Assuming both Skubal and Crochet maintain what we've seen from them so far this year, I can't argue with Skubal's status as the favorite here. Unfortunately, that makes all the non-Skubal options in this market easy-to-resist, even at odds that might look tempting on the surface. National League Cy Young Odds FD ESPN BET Zack Wheeler -115 -115 Paul Skenes +105 EVEN Christopher Sanchez +1500 +1600 Logan Webb +5000 +3300 In the National League, we're looking at a battle between Zack Wheeler and Paul Skenes that could go down to the wire. Zack Wheeler vs. Paul Skenes Statistical Comp. (as of 7/24) Let's start the comparison by listing off the key stats for both below. Record (IP) ERA Strikeouts (SO/9) BB BB/9 SO/BB WAR Zack Wheeler 9-3 (128) 2.39 164 (11.5) 26 1.8 6.31 5.0 Paul Skenes 5-8 (127) 1.91 137 (9.7) 31 2.2 4.42 5.4 If you took a blind look at the numbers above, you might need a second to figure out whether you're more impressed by the overall numbers on the top line or those below it. Skenes' ERA and WAR are spectacular, but it's hard to argue with Wheeler's almost-as-impressive ERA, not to mention his absurd strikeout numbers. There are a couple interesting questions to ponder beyond the stats for these two: Will Wheeler -- who finished a distant second behind Chris Sale in last year's NL Cy Young race (Sale got 26 first-place votes, while Wheeler received four) -- get the benefit of the doubt in another close race? Will voters go against the player with the better WAR? Last year, Sale (6.2 WAR), Wheeler (6.1 WAR) and Skenes (5.9 WAR) "happened" to finish in the same order in the NL Cy Young vote as they did in the NL WAR rankings. Now, let's unpack WAR's role in Cy Young voting a bit further. In last year's AL race, Skubal's WAR of 6.4 was one of the many metrics by which he was in a class of his own. In 2023, Gerrit Cole (7.4 WAR) won the AL Cy Young in a landslide thanks in large part to his big lead atop the WAR leaderboard, while the story for then-Padres ace Blake Snell (6.5 WAR) was the same in the NL. Let's wrap this up by addressing whether either Wheeler and/or Skenes are likely to rest down the stretch of the regular season. If you weren't familiar with 35-year-old Wheeler's recent track record, you might assume there was a chance he wouldn't be a safe bet to rack up the innings. But Wheeler has started 32 games in three of the last four seasons, and it's hard to see that changing this year, especially given that the Phillies are in a dogfight in both the NL East and the National League wildcard hunt. NL Cy Young Best Bet: Zack Wheeler Best odds as of 7/24: -115 (available at FanDuel, ESPN BET) Unfortunately for Skenes' case, it's unlikely that Pittsburgh -- which has one of the worst records in baseball and no playoff hopes -- will trot him out for anywhere near 32 starts. For me, that makes a chalky bet on Wheeler the best NL Cy Young bet as of today. The good news here is that while -115 is not exactly irresistible, it's still well worth a wager at nearly even-money. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Could Trade to Dodgers Be Secret Recipe to Return Ace to 'Former Glory'?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Dodgers came into the season with seemingly the best pitching staff in baseball, but injuries have destroyed most of the top arms. Los Angeles' pitching staff is barely averaging four innings per start at this point. ESPN's Jeff Passan recently suggested the Dodgers would be one of the best fits in a trade for Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Kansas City Royals d1i at loanDepot park on July 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Kansas City Royals d1i at loanDepot park on July 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida."Alcantara was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously. He was more solid than spectacular in 2023 and missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery," Passan wrote. "He has been tinkering this season to try to get his pitch mix and locations right in hopes of regaining his former glory. His 7.14 ERA is unsightly, and with the Marlins still valuing him as a top starter, they could hold on to him until the winter, when teams such as the Baltimore Orioles would be more inclined to acquire him and the final two years of his contract." The Dodgers are certainly the level of aggressive it would take to land a star like Alcántara. The righty also has a few years of affordable team control left on his deal, which would fit perfectly with the Dodgers' payroll. The Marlins need to trade him before he drops his trade value any further. Trading him now would almost certainly net at least one star prospect in return. If the Marlins hunt a trade with the Dodgers, they could pursue former top prospects Bobby Miller and James Outman as well as talented prospects like Justin Wrobleski and plenty of others. Either way, the Dodgers are the right level of aggressive and desperate to make a deal like this come to life this month. More MLB: Shocking Deadline Deal? MLB Insider Links Phillies To All-Star Outfielder
Fox Sports
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building the Best Phillies Lineup
The Philadelphia Phillies' baby blue-and-maroon look is among the best in sports. Might say we're Phanatics of it? This franchise has also left a rich legacy on the diamond, paving the way for today's stars to keep lighting up that Liberty Bell replica overlooking center field. Manager: Charlie Manuel Two-plus years after getting fired midseason in Cleveland, Manuel got his career back on track by becoming Philadelphia's manager in 2005. Taking over a team that was buzzing in wild-card contention, the Phillies won 85-plus games in each of Manuel's first seven seasons in the dugout, highlighted by two National League pennants (2008 and 2009), five consecutive NL East division titles (2007-11), a 102-win 2011 campaign and, of course, winning the 2008 World Series. Manuel is first among Phillies managers with 780 wins. Starting pitcher: Steve Carlton After seven high-caliber seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Carlton joined the Phillies for the 1972 season and took his game to the next level. In his first season in Philadelphia, Carlton posted an MLB-best 12.1 WAR, an NL-best 1.97 ERA and claimed the 1972 NL Cy Young, which would be one of four times that he won the award. On the Phillies' road to winning the 1980 World Series, the left-hander recorded a 2.30 ERA in four starts (27.1 innings). Carlton, who played 14-plus seasons in Philadelphia (1972-86), is first in Phillies history with 3,031 strikeouts, 241 wins and second among pitchers with 39 shutouts, a 64.6 WAR and 3,697.1 innings pitched. Reliever/closer: Tug McGraw After nine sharp seasons with the New York Mets, McGraw joined the Phillies in 1975 and continued to be one of the elite relievers in the sport. McGraw, who was part of Philadelphia's 1980 title team and posted a career-best 1.46 ERA and 0.92 WHIP that season, posted a combined 3.10 ERA over 722.0 innings pitched with the Phillies from 1975-84. McGraw is first in Phillies history with 313 games finished and sixth with 94 saves. Catcher: Darren Daulton Daulton got more and more productive at the plate across his 13-plus seasons in Philadelphia (1983-1997). Midway through his career, the catcher broke out for a pair of mammoth seasons, averaging 26 home runs, an NL-high 107 RBIs and a 5.9 WAR per season from 1992-93, while boasting a .263/.389/.503 slash line. Daulton was an All-Star three times and a Silver Slugger Award recipient once with the Phillies, who gradually moved the catcher to the outfield near the end of his career, and his 6.9 WAR in 1992 is a franchise best for a catcher. 1B: Ryan Howard Howard, who spent his entire career with the Phillies (2004-16), hit baseballs very, very far — and tried to dabble in the publishing industry in "The Office," but that's a story for another day. In just his first full season at the MLB level (2006), Howard uncorked 58 home runs and 149 RBIs, which each led MLB and helped him win the NL MVP Award. Furthermore, across his first six complete seasons (2006-11), Howard led the NL in RBIs three times, home runs twice and averaged an absurd 44 home runs and 133 RBIs per season, while boasting a combined .559 slugging percentage. A torn Achilles tendon suffered on the final play of the 2011 season began to spiral Howard's career, though, he still hit 23.7 home runs per year across his last three seasons (2014-16). Howard, who started at first base for Philadelphia's 2008 World Series team, is second in Phillies history with 382 home runs, third with 1,194 RBIs, seventh with both a .515 slugging percentage and 709 walks and 10th with 277 doubles. 2B: Chase Utley Utley was a stone-cold killer. A four-time Silver Slugger and six-time All-Star, Utley is one of the best second basemen of all time and one of the faces of an electric Philadelphia team in the late 2000s, highlighted by the 2008 championship season. The second baseman had a tall, impact power swing from the left side, posted a slugging percentage north of .500 in five seasons and was a vacuum at the middle-infield position. While the Phillies lost the series in six games, Utley launched five home runs in the 2009 World Series. Utley is second in Phillies history with a 62.0 WAR, fifth with 346 doubles, sixth with both 233 home runs and 949 runs scored, seventh with 916 RBIs and ninth with 1,623 hits. 3B: Mike Schmidt Schmidt is the best player to put on a Phillies uniform for a prolonged period of time. The third baseman spent his entire 18-year career in Philadelphia (1972-89), earning three NL MVP awards, six Silver Slugger honors, 10 Gold Gloves and 12 All-Star nods. Schmidt, who led the NL in home runs eight times, was an impact hitter who slugged at an elite rate his entire career; he's one of the best players in MLB history. The third baseman was the face of the 1980 Phillies' championship team, which saw Schmidt win the World Series MVP. Schmidt is first in Phillies history with 548 home runs, 1,595 RBIs, 1,506 runs scored and a 106.9 WAR, second with 2,234 hits, third with 408 doubles and tied for fourth with a .527 slugging percentage. SS: Jimmy Rollins Rollins was a demon at shortstop, in the batter's box and on the basepaths. A four-time Gold Glover and three-time All-Star, Rollins spent the majority of his career in Philadelphia (2000-14), with whom he won the 2008 World Series and was a net at the middle-infield position. Furthermore, Rollins, who posted a career 55 DRS at shortstop, led MLB in triples four times, including an absurd 20 triples in 2007, a year which saw the shortstop win the NL MVP Award. Rollins and the aforementioned Utley formed one of the best double-play duos of all time in Philadelphia, and the two reunited in 2015 on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rollins is first in Phillies history with both 2,306 hits and 479 doubles, second with 453 stolen bases, third with both 111 triples and 1,325 runs scored, eighth with 887 RBIs and ninth with 216 home runs. OF: Bobby Abreu One of the best players not in the Hall of Fame, Abreu was one of the best all-around outfielders and left-handed hitters of his generation. Spending eight-plus seasons in Philadelphia (1998-2006), Abreu, who frequently worked the count and had a great deal of power, averaged 23 home runs and 94 RBIs per season from 1998-2005, while posting a combined .305/.415/.519 slash line. A two-time All-Star with the Phillies, Abreu is second in franchise history with 947 walks, fourth with both a .416 on-base percentage and 348 doubles, seventh with both 254 stolen bases and a 47.2 WAR and eighth with a .513 slugging percentage across his entire stay with the team. OF: Lenny Dykstra Dykstra worked the count, got on base and scored runs, and one could argue that the Phillies are the team that got the best version of him. Acquired midway through the 1989 season and playing for the franchise through 1996, Dykstra led the NL in hits twice (1990 and 1993) and raked in the Phillies' 1993 run to the World Series, totaling six home runs and 10 RBIs, while posting a .313/.450/.729 slash line in the playoffs. Dykstra, who earned each of his three All-Star honors with the Phillies, had a career .289/.388/.422 slash line for the franchise. OF: Richie Ashburn Ashburn put the ball in play like nobody's business. A six-time All-Star who spent 12 of his 15 seasons with the Phillies (1948-59), Ashburn consistently got on base by means of raw contact hitting, leading the NL in hits three times, triples twice and winning two NL batting titles (1955 and 1958). Ashburn, who helped the Phillies reach the 1950 World Series, is third in franchise history with 2,217 hits, fourth with both 1,114 runs scored and a 58.1 WAR, fifth with 97 triples and eighth with a .394 on-base percentage. DH: Bryce Harper The Phillies gave Harper a $330 million contract in 2019, and he has been worth every penny of that deal. In his first season with the Phillies (2019), the power, left-handed hitter totaled 35 home runs and a career-high 114 RBIs. Two seasons later, he won the 2021 NL MVP, boasting a .615 slugging percentage. And the following year, Harper helped lead the Phillies to the 2022 World Series in a postseason that saw him hit six home runs and post a .746 slugging percentage. Harper, who has primarily played right field for the Phillies but began playing first base in 2023, is fifth in franchise history with a .526 slugging percentage and tied for ninth with a .389 on-base percentage. He has earned two Silver Slugger awards and two All-Star nods in Philadelphia. Honorable mentions: Robin Roberts (starting pitcher) Cole Hamels (starting pitcher) Curt Schilling (starting pitcher) Grover Cleveland "Pete" Alexander (starting pitcher) Brad Lidge (reliever/closer) Carlos Ruiz (catcher) Bob Boone (catcher) Scott Rolen (3B) Dick Allen (3B) Johnny Callison (OF) Greg Luzinski (OF) Pat Burrell (OF) Del Ennis (OF) Garry Maddox (OF) Billy Hamilton (DH) Ed Delahanty (DH) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Philadelphia Phillies recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Leader Emerges in NL Cy Young Race
New Leader Emerges in NL Cy Young Race originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's a new leader in the race to win the 2025 NL Cy Young. According to latest Cy Young rankings, Philadelphia Phillies ace Zach Wheeler takes the top spot, edging out superstar Paul Skenes. Advertisement Wheeler, a consistent candidate who placed second in 2024 and 2021, has never taken home the prize but is putting up a strong fight in 2025. With two months remaining in the season, he has risen to the top thanks to his outstanding June performance and ongoing excellence. He currently leads the NL in strikeouts with 148 and is second in ERA with a 2.17, only trailing Skenes' 1.94. His June was especially impressive as he gave up only two earned runs during the month, displaying elite control and dominating play. Wheeler improved to 9-3 on July 6 after throwing a complete game against the Cincinnati Reds, giving up just one hit. The only blemish was a leadoff homer in the fifth inning. Advertisement His strikeout-to-walk ratio is impressive, with 148 strikeouts against just 25 walks, bolstered by a career-best 32.5% strikeout rate and a 52.7% zone rate. Although Skenes has also been dominant this year, it feels like the former New York Met deserves the No. 1 spot right now. His edge in strikeouts, whip, and durability stand out. According to Wheeler is second in the MLB with 14 quality starts and is only behind Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants. Wheeler's ability to dominate matchups while limiting walks has cemented him as one of MLB's best pitchers. His blend of experience and current high-level play positions him to capture his first Cy Young award, potentially. Advertisement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Which MLB pitchers could be next to join 3,000-strikeout club?
Now that Clayton Kershaw has officially become the 20th pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 career strikeouts, baseball fans' attention can turn to the question of who might be the next pitcher to join him. Kershaw is now the third active member of MLB's 3,000-strikeout club, along with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. On the horizon though, only four current pitchers are even two-thirds of the way to the milestone. So let's take a look at some of the best strikeout pitchers in the game today and see how likely it is they'll become part of that exclusive group. Next closest to 3,000 strikeouts Only four pitchers currently on MLB rosters have even surpassed 2,000 career strikeouts. Unfortunately, the top two are currently on the injured list, putting a halt to their climb up the leaderboard. Sale, 36, went on the injured list June 21 after suffering a fractured ribcage diving for a popup in a game against the New York Mets. He was later moved to the 60-day injured list, which means he can't return until at least mid-August. The reigning NL Cy Young award winner had continued to be one of the league's best pitchers this season -- with 114 strikeouts in 89 ⅓ innings (11.5 K/9). However, staying healthy has proved to be a challenge for Sale throughout his 16-year career. At his current career rate of 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter (and his career average of 6.3 innings per start), Sale would need to make another 60 starts to get to 3,000. Assuming five more starts this season, Sale would be on pace to hit the milestone toward the end of the 2027 season at age 38. Cole, 34, is out for the season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in March. He's expected to be able to resume throwing in September with an eye toward being ready for the start of the 2026 season. Pitchers have been able to come back from elbow surgery and have successful careers -- Verlander was one who did it and won a Cy Young at age 39 – so it's certainly possible Cole will make it to 3,000 strikeouts. If he can maintain his career strikeout rate, Cole would need 106 more starts to hit 3K. If his recovery is successful, he could potentially get there during the 2029 season. At age 41, Morton is unlikely to make it to 3,000 – even though he has averaged 192.8 strikeouts a year over the past four full seasons. Even at that amazing pace, he's still need to pitch until he's 45 to get there. Probably the most surprising member of the 2K club, Darvish has yet to pitch this season as he works his way back from elbow inflammation he first developed this spring. Since he began his pro career in Japan and only started pitching in MLB in 2012, Darvish, 38, probably doesn't have enough time to get to 3,000 K's. However, he did lead the majors in strikeouts with 277 in 2013. Possible late-career surge Of the 10 remaining pitchers at least halfway to 3,000, Nola, 32, has the best combination of accumulated strikeouts and potential production. However, he also is currently on the 60-day injured list with ankle and rib issues. He's averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings over his 11-year career -- one that has been largely injury free. Over the past six full MLB seasons, he's averaged 203 strikeouts per year. At that pace, he would have needed almost seven full seasons to get to 3,000. This year's injury seemingly would extend that into 2032 before he'd be able to reach 3,000 K's. Ray, 33, will likely pass the injured Nola sometime this month. He's 20 months older, but has a better career whiff rate (11.0 K/9) than the Phillies star. In fact, Ray has the third highest strikeout rate in major league history of pitchers with at least 1,000 career innings. However, he's dealt with health issues over the past two seasons – pitching a total of 34 innings in 2023 and 2024 combined. Back in top form this season, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner would need to continue his historic whiff rate over another 200 starts to get to 3,000 strikeouts. So optimistically, 2032. Too early to tell The road to 3K is long and filled with obstacles. Even the most talented pitchers need to avoid catastrophic injuries and have lengthy careers to have a shot. But they all have to start somewhere and bat-missing talent is a good place to start. The defending AL Cy Young award winner just might be the most dominant pitcher in the game right now. He led the majors in strikouts last season with 228 and is just six behind Garrett Crochet's 144 for the MLB lead this year. Projecting his career over at least another decade is tricky, but let's give it a shot. He's whiffed 10.4 batters per nine innings over 120 major league starts, averaging 5.6 innings per start. At that pace, Skubal would need to make 344 more starts to reach 3,000 strikeouts. He made a career-high 31 starts last season, so if he's able to do that every year going forward ... it would take Skubal until the second half of 2036 to hit the 3,000 mark. Just for kicks, let's do last seasons's NL Rookie of the Year. Now in his first full major league campaign, Skenes is just slighly ahead of Skubal in averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings over his 41 big-league starts. Needing just 2,715 more strikeouts to join the 3K club, Skenes would need to stay healthy and maintain his current pace for strikeouts and innings pitched per game for another 392 starts. Let's be optimistic and say he makes 34 starts per season every year. That's another 14 in 2025, plus 11 full seasons and another four starts in 2037. Good luck fellas. Clayton will see ya' in Cooperstown!
