For the past two years Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets has been the Cy Young Award winner in the National League. And it’s safe to say he has been far from a dominant pitcher. Perhaps it helps that he plays in New York where he gets extra media love and attention. But also, the fact that deGrom has won the Cy Young Award for the past two seasons is indicative of how the entire role of pitching, both starting and relieving, has changed dramatically. Once again deGrom is the favorite to win a third consecutive Cy Young Award. Let’s take a look at the top favorites in the National League for 2020.
We’ll have MLB Odds at Bookmaker.eu available for every game of the 2020 MLB season.
2020 NL Cy Young Award Odds at Bookmaker.eu:
Jacob deGrom (Mets) 5/2
Max Scherzer (Nationals) 4/1
Jack Flaherty (Cardinals) 5/1
Walker Buehler (Dodgers) 5/1
Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) 16/1
Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) 20/1
Luis Castillo (Reds) 20/1
Aaron Nola (Phillies) 20/1
Noah Syndergaard (Mets) 20/1
2020 NL Cy Young Award Odds Overview
As is often the case, gamblers are betting on the future based on the past. Sure, Randy Johnson won four consecutive National League Cy Young Awards with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1999 through 2002, and Greg Maddux won four in a row with the Atlanta Braves from 1992 through 1995, but those are the only hurlers in history from the senior circuit to win three or more consecutive Cy Young Awards. And deGrom has plenty of quality opposition that can best him.
Jacob deGrom
Last year deGrom won the NL Cy Young Award with nice but hardly dominant stats. He was 11-8 with a 2.43 earned run average and WHIP of 0.97. In his 2018 NL Cy Young season deGrom was 10-9 with a 1.70 earned run average and WHIP of 0.91. That begs the question as to where are the alternatives?
Max Scherzer
Scherzer certainly has Cy Young bona fides as he won the AL version of the award with the Detroit Tigers in 2013. Additionally, he has two Cy Youngs from the NL as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2016 and 2017. Last year he was 11-7 with a 2.92 earned run average and WHIP of 1.03. But in 2018 he was 18-7 with a 2.53 earned run average and WHIP of 0.91. Yet deGrom got the award.
Jack Flaherty
Flaherty had a good season for the resurgent St. Louis Cardinals as a second-year starter. Flaherty was 11-8 with a 2.75 earned run average and WHIP of 0.97. The problem with this pick is the price, which is too expensive for a starter that, while sold, has not shown Cy Young type production yet.
Walker Buehler
Buehler was an All-Star last year, which was his first season as a full-time starter. Buehler went 14-4 with a 3.26 earned run average and WHIP of 1.04. He will certainly have a surrounding cast that would at least give him a theoretical shot at a 20-win season.
Stephen Strasburg
Strasburg is a three-time NL All-Star and last year’s World Series Most Valuable Player. Strasburg had an impressive 2019 record of 18-6 with a 3.32 earned run average and WHIP of 1.04.
Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw is a three-time NL Cy Young Award winner with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011, 2013, and 2014. He is an eight-time All-Star. He brings a good price as the Dodgers number one starter. Kershaw is coming off a solid season for 2019 in which he went 16-5 with a 3.03 earned run average and WHIP of 1.04.
2020 NL Cy Young Award Free Pick
When you consider the price, the ability, the proven track record, and surrounding team Clayton Kershaw makes for a strong pick.
2020 NL Cy Young Award Pick: Clayton Kershaw
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