The NHL and NBA seasons recently concluded, and NFL training camps lie on the horizon. For the next month, bettors set their exclusive sights on the MLB as the only active Big Four sport to keep us entertained. Thankfully, there are still plenty of plus-ev betting opportunities available.
Outside of the All-Star break, we can satiate our hunger with daily offerings and a jam-packed schedule until the middle of July. Still, the futures market is ripe for the picking. The cream has risen to the top of the betting market, and only a handful of pitchers are in contention for the Cy Young in their respective leagues.
Let’s dive into the BetMGM insights to see which pitchers are commanding the most attention.
American League
Tarik Skubal has claimed dominion over the American League, claiming back-to-back Cy Young awards. Still, his grip on the trophy has loosened, opening the door for several long-shot contenders in 2026.
Cam Schlittler (-105)
Heading into the dog days of summer, Cam Schlittler is priced as the chalky favorite to win this year’s AL Cy Young. The young Yankees’ phenom has been lights out on the mound and has a mountain of betting support behind him.
Schlittler has been virtually unhittable this season. His 0.89 WHIP is one of the best marks across the majors, and he’s got the analytics profile supporting sustained success. As it stands, Schlittler has an opponent expected batting average of .217, using his elite 4-seamer, cutter, sinker mix to induce a 29.5% strikeout rate. Moreover, he has above-average barrel and ground ball rates to limit the damage in the hitter-friendly confines of Yankee Stadium.
This Yankees’ stud opened at an incomprehensible +10000 to win this year’s Cy Young. Now priced as the -105 favorite, several bettors stand to cash in on their massive wins. With 8.2% of tickets and 15.0% of the handle coming in on Schlittler, BetMGM will be left rooting against the young flamethrower to close out the campaign.
Drew Rasmussen (+1300)
Leave it to the Tampa Bay Rays to maximize output from their starting rotation. Drew Rasmussen was brought in a few years ago as a bullpen arm, quickly converting to the starting rotation. He’s been on another level this season, emerging as a top Cy Young contender.
Like Schlittler, Rasmussen was an afterthought when odds opened. A +8000 longshot, the hard-throwing righty has vastly exceeded expectations. He leads the league with a 0.88 WHIP, and is a master at inducing soft contact to limit damage. Rasmussen ranks in the 81st percentile in hard-hit rate, contributing to his top-end analytics profile.
While only 1.4% of tickets have been written on Rasmussen, the Rays’ ace accounts for 4.0% of the betting handle. Predictably, that has precipitated a drop in his odds from +8000 to +1300. If he maintains his form, it won’t be long before he finds himself next to Schlittler at the top of the board.
Dylan Cease (+230)
The Toronto Blue Jays have invested heavily in their roster the past couple of off-seasons. Dylan Cease is their latest ringer, and he’s quickly established himself as a Cy Young frontrunner.
With 5.1% of the tickets and 5.6% of the handle, Cease doesn’t have the same market share from sharp bettors. Nevertheless, his analytics profile is equally as tantalizing as the two aforementioned pitchers.
Cease ranks in the 88th percentile or higher in expected ERA, whiff rate, and opponent expected batting average. Most impressively, he sits in the 99th percentile in strikeout rate, underscoring his value against the premier competition in the AL East.
With a six-pitch mix and a history of maximizing production from start to finish every season, Cease could usurp Schlittler for the betting lead through the summer months.
National League
We are in the Paul Skenes era in the National League. The Pirates’ phenom has opened as the NL Cy Young favorite each of the past two seasons, albeit with varying success in 2026. That opened the door for two primary challengers as we race into the second-half of the campaign.
Jacob Misiorowski (-170)
If you haven’t been paying attention to the NL Central, it’s time to take note of Jacob Misiorowski’s accomplishments. The Brewers’ ace is throwing all kinds of smoke, staking himself to a substantive betting advantage.
Misiorowski’s analytics profile is unlike any other pitcher. He ranks in the 98th percentile in virtually every category, highlighted by his 2.03 expected ERA, 39.1% strikeout rate, and 100.2 mph fastball velocity. As expected, he’s translated that to tangible on-field results. Misiorowski sits 8-3 on the season with a 1.45 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 13.4 K/9 rate.
Curiously, BetMGM opened as +5000 longshot; however, the sportsbook was quick to rectify his odds. Misiorowski has been on a straight shot down, currently installed as -170 chalk. Considering his 9.2% ticket count and 14.2% handle, that price is likely to shorten ahead of the All-Star break.
Cristopher Sanchez (+280)
Since odds opened, Cristopher Sanchez has been viewed as a Cy Young contender. He opened as a +1000 frontrunner, fluctuating around the +200 range over the past few weeks. Sanchez only has three offerings, but he blends them flawlessly and could infringe on Misiorowski’s lead over the coming months.
Sanchez has quietly asserted himself as a premier National League arm. He’s twirling a 1.80 ERA and 9-3 record, dealing swing-and-miss stuff every start. The southpaw ranks in the 98th percentile in chase rate with complementary 31.4% whiff rate. Issuing a tidy 4.7% walk rate, it’s clear that batters have no idea what to expect when Sanchez is dealing from the bump.
Despite a bevy of top contenders, Sanchez is still commanding a 6.8% ticket rate and 7.5% handle. As inferred, that reflects a collection of large money wagers, with sharp bettors looking to maximizing value on a top contender.
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