The Tigers announced that Tarik Skubal will undergo left elbow surgery, sidelining the two-time defending American League Cy Young winner indefinitely.
Skubal owned a 2.70 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP through 43.1 innings pitched, stats that made him the betting favorite to win his third consecutive AL Cy Young.
But with Skubal expected to miss multiple months, he's out of the award conversation. Meanwhile, Garrett Crochet and Hunter Brown - who finished second and third in AL Cy Young voting last year, respectively - are also sidelined with injuries.
There's plenty of baseball left, but as it stands, Cam Schlittler is the new favorite on theScore Bet at +240 (29.4%). Schlittler's Yankees teammate Max Fried (+300) and Dylan Cease (+550) round out the top three.
AL Cy Young odds
| Players (Team) | Current odds | Odds before Skubal's Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Cam Schlittler (NYY) | +240 | +325 |
| Max Fried (NYY) | +300 | +650 |
| Dylan Cease (TOR) | +550 | +900 |
| José Soriano (LAA) | +800 | +1000 |
| Jacob deGrom (TEX) | +1200 | +2500 |
| Gavin Williams (CLE) | +2000 | +3000 |
| Bryan Woo (SEA) | +2500 | +2000 |
| George Kirby (SEA) | +3000 | +5000 |
| Kevin Gausman (TOR) | +3000 | +4000 |
⚾️ Bet on who will win the AL Cy Young, and other MLB awards, on theScore Bet here
Schlittler leads the AL with a 1.52 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. He's third in strikeouts with 53, and his five wins are good for a share of the AL lead. This is his first full season in the major leagues after posting a 2.96 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 14 starts last season.
Fried gives the Yankees a nasty one-two punch. The duo is a key reason New York holds the best record in the AL at 24-11. Fried will have to outduel his teammate to win the award, but his 2.39 ERA and track record as one of the best pitchers in baseball should help him stay in the mix.
Cease leads the AL in strikeouts with 56 but only has two wins. The Blue Jays need to start providing their ace with more run support to help increase his chances of becoming the fifth Blue Jay to earn the honor.
Finally, José Soriano is having a career year for the Angels. The 27-year-old posted a career-worst 4.26 ERA in 31 starts last season but set a career high in strikeouts (152). Soriano is set to blow past that personal best. He has 54 in his 46.2 innings pitched this season, and at his current pace, he should easily surpass 200 punchouts.
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