The Cy Young Award is typically a wide-open race when it comes to preseason MLB betting, and the 2022 season appears to be no exception. But if you’re looking for the favorites this year, you won’t have to search outside of New York City.

Cy Young Odds 2022
Jacob deGrom comes into the 2022 season as the favorite to win his third career Cy Young Award. (Image: Rich Schultz/Getty)

The Mets and the Yankees dominate the list of the top Cy Young contenders in both leagues, though the aces on these respective staffs have plenty of competition this year.

deGrom, Scherzer lead NL Cy Young race

In the National League, two Mets starters top the odds when it comes to winning the Cy Young Award, while a former Met is also a leading contender. Despite coming off an injury-plagued year, Jacob deGrom comes in as the overwhelming +330 favorite to win the 2022 award, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

While deGrom must prove his durability this year, it’s easy to understand how he earned favorite status. He won the Cy Young Award in both 2018 and 2019, and looked well on his way to winning it again – and possibly the NL MVP with it – in 2021.

NL Cy Young Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Jacob deGrom: +330Max Scherzer: +800
Corbin Burnes: +900Walker Buehler: +950
Zack Wheeler: +1000Aaron Nola: +1200
Max Fried: +1200Brandon Woodruff: +1200
Carlons Rodon: +1500Logan Webb: +1600

In 2021, deGrom put up some of the most impressive numbers in MLB history in the early going of the season. He was 7-2 with an astounding 1.08 ERA over 15 starts and 92 innings before tightness in his forearm sent deGrom to the injured list. He wouldn’t return to the mound for the remainder of the season.

At his best, it’s hard to imagine anyone matching deGrom for the NL Cy Young. However, his durability remains a question, and that makes him a questionable bet when there are several other strong contenders for the award.

That includes new Mets pitcher Max Scherzer, who comes in as the second choice at +800. The 37-year-old in Scherzer has won three Cy Young Awards in his career, and finished third in the voting in 2021. Scherzer went 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA in 2021, pitching for both the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Other NL contenders include defending Cy Young winner Corbin Burners (+900), Walker Buehler (+950), and former Met Zack Wheeler (+1000).

Cole still looking for first award

In the American League, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (+425) comes in as the clear favorite. While Cole had to deal with questions about his usage of foreign substances on the ball last year, there are few pitchers who can match his combination of durability, talent, and consistency. Cole has finishing in the top five of Cy Young voting five times, and is an excellent pick to win the award in 2021.

AL Cy Young Odds
Gerrit Cole: +425Shane Bieber: +700
Robbie Ray: +900Lucas Giolito: +1100
Sean Manaea: +1400Dylan Cease: +1400
Lance McCullers Jr.: +1400Shane McClanahan: +1600
Chris Sale: +1600Justin Verlander: +1600

Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber (+700) represents the biggest challenge to Cole in the Cy Young voting. Bieber won the award in 2020, but threw under 100 innings in 2021. While Bieber should recover well from the shoulder injury that limited him last year, like deGrom, he represents a dangerous bet due to his durability issues.

2020 AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray comes in as a +900 choice to repeat. Ray enjoyed a career year with the Toronto Blue Jays last season, and it’s questionable whether he can repeat that success in Seattle this year. Ray is only 62-58 with a 4.00 ERA for his career, and we can expect at least some regression this season.

Other top AL contenders include Lucas Giolito (+1100), Sean Manaea (+1400), Dylan Cease (+1400), and Lance McCullers Jr. (+1400).