Cole and deGrom Still 2021 Cy Young Favorites on Opening Day
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Published:
- Gerrit Cole is the +350 favorite to win the 2021 American League Cy Young Award
- In the National League, Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets is the +425 chalk to win the award
- All of the 2021 Cy Young Award, odds, picks, analysis and best bets follow in the story below
When it comes to the 2021 Cy Young Award, oddsmakers are of a New York state of mind.
In the National League, Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets is the +425 betting choice in the Cy Young odds. Over to the American League and bookmakers are favoring Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees to be the winner in the junior circuit.
In 2018 and 2019, deGrom was the Cy Young winner in the NL. Cole has never earned himself a Cy Young nod.
2021 AL Cy Young Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Gerrit Cole (Yankees) | +350 |
| Shane Bieber (Cleveland) | +400 |
| Lucas Giolito (White Sox) | +450 |
| Tyler Glasnow (Rays) | +950 |
| Hyun-Jin Ryu (Blue Jays) | +1300 |
| Jose Berrios (Twins) | +1700 |
| Lance Lynn (White Sox) | +1700 |
| Kenta Maeda (Twins) | +1700 |
| Corey Kluber (Yankees) | +1800 |
| Dallas Keuchel (White Sox) | +2200 |
| Marco Gonzales (Mariners) | +2500 |
| Jesus Luzardo (Athletics) | +2500 |
| Luis Severino (Yankees) | +3000 |
| Zack Greinke (Astros) | +3300 |
| Andrew Heaney (Angels) | +3300 |
| Nate Pearson (Blue Jays) | +3300 |
| Frankie Montas (Athletics) | +3500 |
| Eduardo Rodriguez (Red Sox) | +3500 |
| Dylan Bundy (Angels) | +4000 |
| Dylan Cease (White Sox) | +4000 |
| Nathan Eovaldi (Red Sox) | +4000 |
| Mike Minor (Royals) | +4000 |
| Shohei Ohtani (Angels) | +4000 |
| Zach Plesac (Cleveland) | +4000 |
Odds as of March 31st at DraftKings.
King Cole?
Cole was fourth in Cy Young voting last season, his first with the Yankees. In 2019, despite leading the AL in wins and strikeouts with the Houston Astros, Cole finished second in the balloting to teammate Justin Verlander.
According to Fantrax.com, averaging his 2020 numbers out over a normal 162-game season, Cole would’ve finished with a 2.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 39.9% strikeout rate in 212.1 innings.
Gerrit Cole’s next time on the mound will be in front of fans in the Bronx for his first time as a Yankee pic.twitter.com/mMoDKG33CQ
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 27, 2021
Cole’s 36.6% strikeout rate over the past three seasons is #1 in baseball. If there’s one concern with Cole’s repertoire, it’s the increase in the number of home runs he’s been surrendering.
In his first season pitching at home-run friendly Yankee Stadium, his home run-per-nine innings rate went from 1.23 to 1.73.
AL Contenders
FanGraphs is projecting Lucas Giolito of the White Sox to go 16-7 this year with a 3.00 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He’s also predicted to lead all AL pitchers with a WAR of 5.0.
It may be challenging for reigning Cy Young winner Shane Bieber to consistently succeed backed by a rebuilding Cleveland offense.
Lights out. Lucas Giolito strikes out 9 in his 2021 Cactus League finale! pic.twitter.com/xJCN7z2aqU
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 27, 2021
Hyun Jin Ryu was third in the voting last year and could step into the conversation if Toronto continues its resurgence. While Cole’s odds lengthened since he opened at +200, Twins hurler Kenta Maeda saw his odds shorten from +2000 to +1700.
AL Sleeper Pick
One of the quiet offseason moves with potential to be loudly discussed this season is the Yankees signing of two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. His last two seasons were scuttled by injury.
Corey Kluber, Disgusting Two Seamer. 🤮 pic.twitter.com/E8nIQOScYu
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 28, 2021
Should the old Kluber return on the mound in the limelight of the Big Apple, he’s of great value at +1800.
AL Cy Young Pick: Lucas Giolito, White Sox (+450)
2021 NL Cy Young Award Odds
| Pitcher (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jacob deGrom (Mets) | +425 |
| Trevor Bauer (Dodgers) | +700 |
| Max Scherzer (Nationals) | +950 |
| Walker Buehler (Dodgers) | +1000 |
| Yu Darvish (Padres) | +1200 |
| Aaron Nola (Phillies) | +1200 |
| Blake Snell (Padres) | +1200 |
| Luis Castillo (Reds) | +1500 |
| Jack Flaherty (Cardinals) | +1500 |
| Max Fried (Braves) | +1700 |
| Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) | +2000 |
| Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) | +2000 |
| Charlie Morton (Braves) | +2200 |
| Brandon Woodruff (Brewers) | +2200 |
| Dinelson Lamet (Padres) | +2500 |
| Patrick Corbin (Nationals) | +2800 |
| German Marquez (Rockies) | +3000 |
| Michael Soroka (Braves) | +3000 |
| Sonny Gray (Reds) | +3300 |
| Sixto Sanchez (Marlins) | +3300 |
| Zack Wheeler (Phillies) | +3300 |
deGrom Heating Up
A dangerous hurler at all times, with an improved Mets offense to back his unbelievable stuff, deGrom could be in for a season for the ages.
Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of deGrom’s assets is his velocity. It’s gone up for four successive seasons. No other pitcher in MLB history has been able to do that since pitch tracking technology came into vogue.
“I expect the best version of him, because that’s what he’s always after,” Luis Rojas said when asked what the Mets expect from Jacob deGrom this season.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) March 30, 2021
deGrom shows 76 games as an MLB hurler. His career ERA is 2.10. In 489 innings he’s struck out 628 hitters. He’s accomplished all this success with little to none in terms of run support. That should change this season.
The only hope the rest of the NL hurlers have of winning the Cy Young is if deGrom falters or is injured.
NL Contenders
The Padres’ new tandem of Yu Darvish and Blake Snell are a dynamite 1-2 punch. Likewise, Walker Buehler of the Dodgers will be one to watch.
Yu Darvish on how he'd pitch to Ted Williams. 😀
Watch the interview–>https://t.co/SZWabpDLVP pic.twitter.com/DdzCcWXme3
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 24, 2021
Perennial contender Max Scherzer of the Nationals looks to have lost a bit off his game. The Phillies probably can’t win enough to get Aaron Nola into the conversation.
NL Sleeper Pick
The Cardinals are perhaps the NL’s most intriguing team. The addition of Nolan Arenado makes St. Louis a legit pennant hopeful.
Pitchers Max Fried, Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito, all former teammates at Harvard-Westlake High School in L.A., will be the Opening Day starters for the #Braves, Cardinals and White Sox.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 25, 2021
That improves the Cy Young chances of Jack Flaherty. Last season, his strikeouts per nine innings rate was at 10.5 for the third straight season.
NL Cy Young Pick: Jacob deGrom, Mets (+425).
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
