Recognized as the premier pitching award in all of professional baseball, the Cy Young Award is one of the most coveted honors in Major League Baseball. With the 2022 season already underway, some contenders have emerged as favorites to take home the award in the National League (the honor is also handed out in the American League, as well). For instance, the New York Mets’ Max Scherzer currently leads the NL in wins while San Francisco’s Carlos Rodon is third in the league in ERA (earned run average) at 1.17. With old favorites like Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw still in play along with young guns like the Padres’ ace Joe Musgrove, this is a wide-open race.
Below, SBS goes into more detail regarding some of the contenders for the NL Cy Young Award and also who will eventually take home the honor at the end of the regular season.
| Favorites to Win The 2022 National League Cy Young |  |
|---|---|
| Carlos Rodon | +350 |
| Corbin Burnes | +500 |
| Max Scherzer | +500 |
| Walker Buehler | +1000 |
As of this writing, Rodon is having a stellar season for the Giants. Penciled in as San Francisco’s No. 1 pitcher, Rodon currently holds a perfect record of 3-0 and has also put together the lowest ERA ever in his career at 1.17. Prior to this season, the former Chicago White Sox had put together some uneven years in the Windy City until his breakthrough 2021 campaign. Last season, the 29-year old notched a record of 13-5 along with a very solid ERA of 2.37. Also, thanks to a career-high 5.1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the pitcher was able to keep a ton of runners off the bases. With his first year in the Bay Area off to a hot start, Rodon certainly has everyone’s attention.
The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Burnes is the unquestioned ace for the Brewers. Coming off a fantastic year in 2021 where he finished the season with an overall record of 11-5 and led the major leagues in ERA at 2.43, the pitcher is a machine on the mound. The Californian also led all of MLB in strikeouts per nine innings (12.6) and strikeout-to-walk ratio at (K/BB) at 6.88 last year too. As for the start of this young season, the ace has put together a modest record of 1-1 along with a great ERA of 1.93. In a crowded field in the NL, he will have to keep the wins and strikeouts if he hopes to lock down another Cy Young.
A familiar favorite to many in the sport, Scherzer is one of the best in the business. At 37 years of age, he is definitely the oldest player on this list, but has not lost a step. A three-time Cy Young Award winner (2013, 2016 and 2017), Scherzer is already making noise in his debut season with the Mets. Scherzer has already racked up a league-leading four wins on the year along with a stout ERA of 2.61 along with a career-low WHIP of 0.81.
An eight-time All-Star, the native of Chesterfield, Missouri is one of the most explosive players in the game and one of its most crafty. Already this season he has fired up his teammates with his explosive play and veteran savvy. ESPN has also recognized him as one of its early season picks to lock down the Cy Young.
Our final athlete spotlight, Buehler needs no introduction as the All-Star flamethrower for the Dodgers. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Buehler is coming off his second All-Star team selection last season and his first All-MLB First Team nod too. Thanks to a strong regular season where he went 16-4 (2nd in the NL) along with a 2.47 ERA (3rd), the 27-year old was able to consistently outpace his National League foes. As for this year, the ace has put together a 3-1 mark for Los Angeles and has been the focal point for the No. 1 team in NL West. The Kentucky resident also has the luxury of being on one of the consistently strongest teams in the league with the Dodgers. This of course is never a bad thing when it comes to run support.
Prediction: A close battle, perhaps this is the season that Scherzer takes home his fourth Cy Young honor. If Scherzer keeps his Mets rolling, then the award will be his for the taking.
This year’s NL Cy Young Award race should be another blistering competition with the top flamethrowers in baseball going at it. For anything pertaining to baseball, SBS has you set with our all-inclusive MLB wagering page. This guide features the latest information on all kinds of MLB games and gives you your pick of the litter when choosing a gaming partner.
Need some more bang for your buck? SBS also has a ton of information relating to the most lucrative bonus offers available now. Speaking of lucrative, make sure to peruse our breakdown on VIP sports wagering pages to find out if VIP wagering is the right play for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
