MLB betting: Updated odds, bets to consider for Cy Young, MVP
Hyun-Jin Ryu for NL Cy Young? Michael Brantley for AL MVP? Either scenario seems much more possible than it did prior to the season.
We're revisiting the odds in the Cy Young and MVP markets after offering our recommendations before the year, and will suggest another set of picks at their current prices.
AL Cy Young (Previous picks: Justin Verlander 15-1, Trevor Bauer 20-1)
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Justin Verlander | 5-4 |
| Gerrit Cole | 3-1 |
| Jake Odorizzi | 5-1 |
| Lucas Giolito | 7-1 |
| Chris Sale | 8-1 |
| Jose Berrios | 10-1 |
| Charlie Morton | 15-1 |
| James Paxton | 30-1 |
| Blake Snell | 40-1 |
| Mike Minor | 50-1 |
| Trevor Bauer | 50-1 |
| Shane Bieber | 50-1 |
| Masahiro Tanaka | 60-1 |
| Domingo German | 60-1 |
| Frankie Montas | 60-1 |
| Martin Perez | 60-1 |
| Matthew Boyd | 60-1 |
Verlander looks like a good preseason pick. On the other hand, we may have bought too hard into Bauer's 2018 breakout. There's one player on this list who we'd buy at his current price.
Charlie Morton (15-1)
Tyler Glasnow was the way-too-early American League Cy Young leader through his first eight starts before hitting the injured list due to a forearm strain. That torch has been passed through the Tampa Bay Rays' staff - not to Blake Snell, as one might expect, but rather Morton, who's continuing to blossom late in his career.
The veteran right-hander still hasn't lost a decision, sitting 7-0 after just over one-third of the season. Morton also has a 2.30 ERA and a career-high 11 K/9 so far in 2019; his advanced metrics look good, too, as his 2.69 FIP ranks fourth in the majors.
NL Cy Young (Previous picks: Walker Buehler 25-1; Jameson Taillon 50-1)
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Hyun-Jin Ryu | -125 |
| Max Scherzer | 5-2 |
| Zach Davies | 10-1 |
| Luis Castillo | 10-1 |
| Jacob deGrom | 18-1 |
| Walker Buehler | 18-1 |
| Mike Soroka | 25-1 |
| Aaron Nola | 30-1 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 30-1 |
| Zack Greinke | 30-1 |
| Josh Hader | 40-1 |
| Chris Paddack | 40-1 |
| Zach Eflin | 40-1 |
| Patrick Corbin | 40-1 |
| Stephen Strasburg | 40-1 |
| German Marquez | 50-1 |
Once again, there's a lone player from this field whose stock we'd buy.
Mike Soroka (25-1)
We've heard for years about the potential of the Atlanta Braves' farm system, especially its pitching staff. Soroka is one of those budding stars who has burst onto the scene in his age-21 season, holding a 7-1 record after spinning another gem Friday against the Miami Marlins. The right-hander doesn't play in one of the bigger markets and he doesn't have gaudy strikeout numbers, but Soroka is second in the majors with a 1.38 ERA and fifth in FIP at 2.70. We'd make the rookie closer to 10-1.
AL MVP (Previous picks: Mike Trout 3-1; Alex Bregman 18-1)
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mike Trout | -200 |
| Alex Bregman | 5-1 |
| Francisco Lindor | 10-1 |
| Austin Meadows | 18-1 |
| Mookie Betts | 20-1 |
| Matt Chapman | 30-1 |
| Gary Sanchez | 30-1 |
| Byron Buxton | 30-1 |
| Yoan Moncada | 40-1 |
| Eddie Rosario | 40-1 |
| Xander Bogaerts | 40-1 |
| Jorge Polanco | 40-1 |
| George Springer | 50-1 |
| Rafael Devers | 50-1 |
| Gleyber Torres | 50-1 |
We'd actually hold tight here with our two preseason selections, who remain in the top spots heading into the weekend.
NL MVP (Previous picks: Anthony Rendon 15-1; Kris Bryant 20-1)
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Christian Yelich | 7-4 |
| Cody Bellinger | 7-4 |
| Nolan Arenado | 6-1 |
| Josh Bell | 10-1 |
| Anthony Rizzo | 10-1 |
| Ronald Acuna Jr. | 18-1 |
| Javier Baez | 20-1 |
| Pete Alonso | 25-1 |
| Kris Bryant | 25-1 |
| Paul DeJong | 30-1 |
| Bryce Harper | 30-1 |
| Anthony Rendon | 30-1 |
| Freddie Freeman | 40-1 |
| Rhys Hoskins | 50-1 |
| Manny Machado | 50-1 |
| Trevor Story | 60-1 |
| Marcell Ozuna | 60-1 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 60-1 |
First of all, sell all the Bryce Harper stock in the world. Next, place matching bets on both Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich and collect at the window.
Barring injury or some otherworldly slumps, Bellinger or Yelich will take home this award at the end of the season. While the former is pacing the majors with a .365 batting average, the latter - and reigning National League MVP - is parking homers at a torrid pace. It's been Bellinger versus Yelich through the first few months of the season and should be a two-man race the entire year.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.