Throughout the 2023 MLB season, BetFTW is keeping track of the Cy Young and MVP award leaders in both the American League and National League.
Every two weeks or so, we’re listing our top-five leaders for each award along with stats to support their award cases. We also include each player’s betting odds from DraftKings to win the award, though it’s important to remember odds often attempt to predict who finishes the year at the top based on previous expectations, and they adjust as the seasons goes. We simply tell you which players have been the best.
Here are this week’s top five.
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American League Cy Young
Nathan Eovaldi makes his Cy Young ladder debut at No. 3 (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
1. Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays (+300)
9-1 | 2.02 ERA | 87 SO | 2.7 WAR
Last ladder: 1st
McClanahan has topped every one of my AL ladders this year and he remains No. 1 this week, as he may very well be the best pitcher in all of baseball. Not only is he keeping runs down, he’s doing it with an incredible 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
2. Framber Valdez, Houston Astros (+750)
6-4 | 2.16 ERA | 84 SO | 2.5 WAR
Last ladder: 5th
Valdez joins McClanahan as the only other AL pitcher to make each of my ladders, though this is his first time climbing out of the fifth spot. He can thank a three-game stretch where he’s allowed just a single run for that.
3. Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers (+1200)
8-2 | 2.24 ERA | 77 SO | 2.6 WAR
Last ladder: Not ranked
Eovaldi makes his ladder debut amid a similar three-game stretch of allowing just a single run, including a one-hit shutout in six innings against the Mariners on Sunday.
4. Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays (+750)
5-3 | 2.63 ERA | 113 SO | 1.7 WAR
Last ladder: Not ranked
Gausman’s ERA isn’t as low as others but it’s still a solid number, and he’s maintained it while tying for the most innings pitched in the AL. His 113 strikeouts are most in the AL by 17 and tied for the major league lead.
5. Eduardo Rodríguez, Detroit Tigers (+6500)
4-4 | 2.13 ERA | 67 SO | 2.5 WAR
Last ladder: Not ranked
Rodríguez was fourth on the inaugural ladder before falling off the last one. He makes his return after just a single start in that time because his innings pitched are still in line with the other players I considered here — including Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray — but his ERA remains the lowest of anyone not named McClanahan.
National League Cy Young
Spencer Strider makes his Cy Young ladder debut at No. 3 (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
1. Marcus Stroman, Chicago Cubs (+1800)
6-4 | 2.39 ERA | 68 SO | 3.1 WAR
Last ladder: Not ranked
Stroman threw a one-hit, complete game shutout against MLB’s best team, the Tampa Bay Rays, last Monday, then followed that up against the Padres by allowing zero earned runs in six innings to win his fourth straight start. After falling off the last ladder, Stroman returns this week in the top spot.
2. Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves (+6000)
4-0 | 2.26 ERA | 64 SO | 2.5 WAR
Last ladder: 3rd
Elder has been the most steady pitcher in the NL since I started the ladder, climbing from fifth to third and now second. He had a rough time out against the Mets on Tuesday, though, so he’ll need to shake it off if he wants to continue climbing.
3. Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves (+190)
6-2 | 2.97 ERA | 113 SO | 1.8 WAR
Last ladder: Not ranked
Strider is the betting favorite for this award, so it was always just a matter of time before he found his Cy Young form. He still has more work to do in terms of limiting the home run, but his 113 strikeouts are tied with Gausman for the ML lead.
4. Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks (+220)
7-2 | 2.75 ERA | 88 SO | 1.8 WAR
Last ladder: 5th
Gallen climbs a spot this week after consecutive quality starts, including a six-inning shutout of the Rockies last Tuesday, which was followed by a three-run effort against the Braves on Sunday.
5. Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs (+5000)
6-2 | 2.65 ERA | 58 SO | 2.0 WAR
Last ladder: 2nd
Steele falls from No. 2, but it could have been worse (see former No. 1 Mitch Keller). He was solid in three innings against the Rays last Wednesday before being pulled with an elbow injury, but it was the previous start that really hurt him. He gave up 10 hits and six runs to the Reds in 3 2/3 innings.
