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Today we're going to be ranking the top 10 Cy Young canidates in all of baseball. For once these rankings aren't seperated into the NL vs the AL and instead we're going to be looking at these pitchers from a wide view. With that said let's dive into the 10 Cy Young candidates for the 2024 MLB Season.
10. Cole Ragans - Kansas City Royals
26-year-old Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans is primed for a big season. Coming off a second half in which he posted a 2.64 ERA, 3.30 SO/W, and 5-2 record for the Royals, Ragans is looking to build on that and cement himself as Kansas City's ace.
The AL Central is, without a doubt, the weakest division in baseball currently and sets up Ragans to have many favorable matchups this year. Ragans averaged 11.2 SO/9 to end 2023 and should continue to make hitters whiff at a high rate throughout the year.
The Royals are young and could even be in for a sneaky good year, but a major part of that relies on Ragans turning into the ace he's already shown flashes of becoming. Ragans currently stands around +1100 odds to win the AL Cy Young, but expect that number to lower significantly as the season progresses.
9. Tyler Glasnow - Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow has always shown flashes of being an elite pitcher. Glasnow's biggest obstacle comes down to injuries. During his 10-year MLB career, Glasnow has only thrown 100 innings in a season twice. Now on a stacked Dodgers roster, Glasnow does not have the pressure to be the team's go-to guy, which should help take the load off his arm.
Glasnow carries a career 3.89 ERA and averages 11.5 SO/9, and now, with a solid Dodgers defense behind him, he could turn the 2024 season into one to remember. Glasnow currently has odds of around +1500 to win the Cy Young, and barring those previously mentioned injuries, I could see him comfortably in the top five all year.
8. Tarik Skubal - Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is coming off a very underrated season. Skubal quietly posted a 2.80 ERA, 11.4 SO/9, .199 BAA, and 7-3 record. The Tigers are poised to fight for the AL Central crown this year and need Skubal to keep his 2023 form.
As previously stated, the central division is the weakest in baseball and offers good matchups for opposing pitchers. The Tigers are improving fast, and I would look for Skubal to get his first All-Star nod this year. The odds for Skubal to win the Cy Young Award currently sit around +950, and as long as the Tigers can play some solid baseball, he certainly has a decent chance of winning.
7. Blake Snell - San Francisco Giants
Blake Snell was the big question of the offseason and finally landed with the San Francisco Giants. Snell is coming off a season in which he won his second Cy Young award and could actually play even better this year. The move could work brilliantly for both sides as Oracle Park, the Giants home stadium, is one of the most notorious in baseball for being difficult on hitters.
As long as Snell stays healthy, he should have another great year and could go a long way in helping the Giants return to the playoffs. Snell's odds of winning the award for a third time are around +1800, and I expect him to stay consistently in the top 5 candidates throughout this year.
6. Framber Valdez - Houston Astros
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez has consistently proven to be a very solid rotation leader. For two years in a row, Framber has been voted an all-star and continues to be a big part of the Astros success.
Valdez has finished inside the top 10 vote getters for Cy Young the past two seasons, and there's no reason to believe he won't do it again. If Valdez can throw another 200 innings and the Astros continue to be a World Series contender, he's a lock to finish in the top 10 in voting and could finally snag his first Cy Young in his age-30 season. Valdez's current odds are +950, and he's comfortably among the top three candidates to win.
5. Zac Gallen - Arizona Diamondbacks
Perennial Cy Young candidate Zac Gallen is looking to finally win the award and help the Arizona Diamondbacks build on a magical 2023 season. Gallen is a proven ace, finishing in the top 10 in the award voting three times and even as high as third this past season.
Gallen put up another strong year, tallying 220 Ks, a 3.47 ERA, and a 17-9 record. Going into his age 28 season, Gallen could just now be entering his prime and should be another lock to finish in the top five for the award. Gallen's odds sit around +1200, and he could be a sneaky candidate to steal the award from heavy favorite Spencer Strider.
4. Pablo Lopez - Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez is coming off a year where he earned his first well-deserved all-star appearance and finished 7th in Cy Young voting. Lopez looks to lead the Twins to another AL Central crown this year and will be looked at to carry the load yet again.
Lopez posted a 3.66 ERA, 117 ERA+, and 11-8 record across 194 innings pitched last season and should be a solid bet to have similar production. Lopez’s current odds are around +1000, and he is another safe bet to finish in the top 10 at worst.
3. Zack Wheeler - Philadelphia Phillies
Zack Wheeler is coming off a down year by his expectations but will always be a Cy Young candidate as long as he’s healthy. The Philadelphia Phillies will need to rely on Wheeler yet again as they look to return to the playoffs and battle the Atlanta Braves for first in the NL East. Wheeler is around +850 to win the award, and with another successful year for the Phillies, he will likely finish in the top five in voting.
2. Corbin Burnes - Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles made, in many’s opinion, the signing of the offseason when they landed Corbin Burnes. Burnes has consistently been a top pitcher in the league and looks to lead a hopeful Orioles team to playoff success this year. Burnes has finished in the top 10 in voting four straight years and has a chance to be even better this year, with a high-powered Orioles offense giving him some much-needed run support. Corbin sits around the top two favorites in the AL to win the award with odds at +850.
1. Spencer Strider - Atlanta Braves
The consensus heavy favorite to win NL Cy Young this year, Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider has some of the most electric stuff in the game and looks to lead the Braves back to another World Series berth. Strider currently has odds of +400, and if he can replicate his performance from last season, along with a newly added curveball, he should have a very good chance of winning the award for the first time.
