Chris Sale and Max Scherzer Among Favorites to Lead All Pitchers in Wins in 2019

• Chris Sale and Max Scherzer are joined by Corey Kluber and Luis Severino as co-favorites to lead the Majors in wins
• The Red Sox ace was limited by injury in 2018, while Kluber tallied 20 wins for the first time in his career
• Lester lags well behind favorites, but provides massive value leading a Cubs squad on the rebound

A pair of veteran pitchers are atop the odds to lead the Majors in regular season wins during the 2019 season.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale currently join 2018 win leader Corey Kluber and rising star Luis Severino as co-favorites to rack up the most wins in the upcoming campaign, with each sporting +1000 odds.

Odds to Record Most Wins in 2019

*Odds taken on 02/28/19

Nats Take Step Back in 2018 Despite Scherzer’s Heroics

Scherzer is coming off another spectacular season in the nation’s capital, racking up an 18-7 record with the Washington Nationals while leading the National League in strikeouts for a third straight year. While Scherzer anchors a solid rotation that also features Stephen Strasburg and new arrival Patrick Corbin, questions continue to swirl around the Nationals’ prospects for a return to postseason contention in 2019.

Max Scherzer won the NL Cy Young Award in 2016.
Max Scherzer won the NL Cy Young Award in 2017.
Max Scherzer said he'd be *better* in 2018.

Max Scherzer was right. pic.twitter.com/tY6JSViMwG

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) November 6, 2018

Washington took a major step back last season, struggling to play .500 ball over the final two months of the campaign to finish in second place in the NL East with an 82-80 record. The Nationals must also move forward without superstar Bryce Harper.

Kluber a Model of Consistency in Cleveland

Kluber returns to action after recording the first 20-win campaign in his eight years in the Majors. The 32-year-old has been a model of consistency in the Indians rotation, tallying 18 or more wins in four of the past five seasons, and will once again anchor the rotation for an Indians squad that is perched as a heavy -350 favorite to claim a fourth straight AL Central title.

Commentary: Pressure building for Indians in 2019 with Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer likely on way out – Major League Baseball News – https://t.co/5o664AkYOc#Indians #Cleveland pic.twitter.com/aIrXqKyHU8

— Cleveland Sports News (@cavs_newsnow) February 24, 2019

Kluber is joined by Trevor Bauer, who is pegged as a +2500 bet to lead the Majors in wins. Bauer was limited to just 27 starts in 2018 by a leg injury that sidelined him during the second half of the season, but still produced a 12-6 record with a sparkling 2.21 ERA, and like Kluber will be looking to earn a big pay raise in 2020.

Kluber is joined in the Indians rotation by Trevor Bauer, who is pegged as a +2500 bet to lead the Majors in wins, and will be looking to earn a big pay raise in 2020

Carlos Carrasco proved that he was for real last season, following up an 18-win campaign in 2017 by going 17-10 last season, but will have to overcome the streakiness that left him with just one win during the month of September if he is to pay out on +3000 odds to earn the most wins.

Severino Looking to Build on Breakthrough 2018 Campaign

Severino is the youngest hurler among the favorites to lead the majors in wins. The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough in 2018, trailing only Kluber with 19 wins, and is expected to be the ace of a New York Yankees squad that has emerged as a strong -125 bet to win OVER 96.5 games on the MLB season props in sportsbooks.

Luis Severino looking to take the next step https://t.co/gPwUuIbVLp

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) February 24, 2019

Sale Aiming to Rebound from Injury-Plagued 2018 Season

It is tough to overlook Sale as a top candidate to lead all pitchers in wins this season. The Boston Red Sox ace was squarely in the hunt to lead the majors in pitching when he took the mound as the AL starter in the 2018 MLB All-Star Game sporting a 10-4 record. He would see his season ultimately derailed by a should injury in late July that effectively kept him on the shelf until mid-September, and limited him to a 12-4 record on the year.

Too old and injury prone next year for a monster contract!

Rosenthal: Sign a monster extension or head to free agency? Either way Chris Sale has set himself up for a big season – The Athletic https://t.co/bTFL0bUFep

— john harvey (@pjyankeeedved) February 18, 2019

Lester Lags on the Odds Board Despite Outstanding 2018 Season

But perhaps the most value can be found further down the odds to lead the Major Leagues in winning decisions.

Amid a disappointing campaign on the North Side of Chicago, marred by a rash of injuries, and ending with a stunning loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in a one-game playoff to determine the NL Central champion, was the steady play of Jon Lester.

From @RyanQDavis: Jon Lester May Be Beating The Projections All The Way To The Hall Of Fame https://t.co/Mzp2FJAreM #Cubs #MLB

— John Perrotto (@JPerrotto) February 27, 2019

Powered by a sensational 6-1 run over his final eight starts, the Cubs ace finished the season with an 18-6 record, but has returned to action trailing the favorites as a distant +6600 bet to lead the majors in wins this season. The 35-year-old has now recorded 18 or more wins on three occasions during his 13-year career, and will anchor a Cubs rotation that is arguably the best in baseball.

The Cubs are likely to face stiffer competition in a much-improved NL Central, and sport the weakest odds of any team favored to win their divisional pennant, at +200. But with the likes of Kris Bryant, Yu Darvish, Anthony Rizzo, and Ben Zobrist all returning to health following injury-plagued campaigns, the Cubs’ current value on the odds board will not last for long.