While we still are months removed from the 2025 MLB season, FanDuel has released its futures odds for this year’s Cy Young Award. With some familiar names and some new ones headlining the pack, let’s take a look at some of the best “way-too-early” picks for the 2025 American and National League Cy Young.
National League
Paul Skenes (+300)
A full year of Paul Skenes, taking this at +300 seems like a no-brainer. Skenes proved in his first season in the majors that he is already among the elite pitchers in the game. He started the 2024 All Star game for the NL while also taking home the Rookie of the Year Award. In 133.0 innings pitched, Skenes recorded a 1.96 ERA, 11 wins, and 5.9 bWAR.
Skenes pitched almost the exact same amount of innings across the first and second half of the season. In both, Skenes was incredibly consistent, and posted very similar numbers.
First half splits: 66.1 IP, 1.90 ERA, 89 SO, 34.9% K%, 5.1% BB%, .202 AVG, 12.08 K/9
Second half splits: 66.2 IP, 2.03 ERA, 81 SO, 31.3% K%, 7.3% BB%, .194 AVG, 10.94 K/9
The 22-year old flamethrower towards the end of the season saw the walk percentage go up while the strikeout percentage went down slightly. The fatigue of a long season likely got to Skenes especially with hitters having more major league film from him to work with.
However, the slight dips in some of his numbers is not alarming in the slightest as he still ranked in the 95th percentile for strikeout rate, and was well above average with a 6.2 walk percentage on the season.
In his second season with Pittsburgh, Skenes should be in the mix to win this award all season long and at +300 odds, there may not be better value for this future.
Zack Wheeler (+750)
Wheeler has been right there since 2021, finishing second in Cy Young voting twice (2021 and 2024). In his 10th season in the majors, Wheeler was a workhorse for the Phillies throwing 200 innings, recording a 2.57 ERA and a 10.1 K/9 rate. Wheeler also led the National League in WHIP at 0.96 as well as H/9 at 6.3.
At +750 odds there’s great value here for a pitcher who since 2021, hasn’t thrown less than 153 innings in a season. An arm that generates a lot of chase as well as weak exit velocity, 2025 could very well be Wheeler’s year to take home the coveted award.
Spencer Strider (+2220)
After only pitching only 9.0 innings last season due to an injury, a longshot pick for Strider to take home the award has incredible value. In his two previous full seasons, Strider has been great, finishing second in the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year voting, and fourth in the 2023 NL Cy Young voting.
A full season of Strider in 2025 could very well be his year and at +2220, why not take it? In 2023, Strider led the entire league in wins with 20, win-loss percentage with a 20-5 record, strikeouts with 281, and K/9 at 13.5. At his best there are not many pitchers in the National League that can put up similar production. The Braves as a whole need to bounce back and if Strider can lead the way, he can put himself in a great position to take home the award.
American League
Tarik Skubal (+400)
It would simply be wrong to not go back to the 2024 Triple Crown winner for our first AL pick. Skubal in his first All Star season led all pitchers in bWAR (6.3), wins (18), and strikeouts (228). He has all the advanced metrics on his side to tell us he’s very capable of doing this again in 2025. He ranked in the 95th percentile for walk rate, and the 91st for strikeout rate. He was well above average at limiting hard hit contact in 2024, something that’ll be very important to carry into 2025.
With a Tigers lineup that looks to out-perform their wild 2024 season, their ace is going to have to step up. His 2025 projections via FanGraphs has his 2025 season at a 2.90 ERA in 32 starts, with very slight regression in the strikeout and walk department. Even with this very slight projected dip in numbers, Skubal would still be the likely AL Cy Young for the second straight season.
Garrett Crochet (+600)
Moving to Boston puts much higher expectations on Garrett Crochet, but he should have no problem living up to those expectations. There are not many arms from the left side better right now than Crochet. He ranks in the 98th percentile for strikeout rate, and the 93rd for whiff and chase rate.
The 25-year old will wreak havoc on the American League East this season, and having a postseason hopeful team behind him will be huge in obtaining him more wins on the mound. If he can keep his advanced numbers similar to the way they were this past season, he should be able to accumulate the wins and strikeouts needed to take home the Cy Young.
Logan Gilbert (+1600)
Gilbert was quietly one of the league’s better pitchers in 2024. In his first All Star season, the 24-year old led the entire league in innings pitched and starts with 208.2 innings pitched in 33 starts. He also led the league in WHIP at 0.89. Since 2022, Gilbert has been a workhorse for the Mariners and if he can put up at least 180-190 innings pitched, he should be right in the running for the award again after finishing sixth in voting this past season.
Gilbert excels at limiting walks ranking the 95th percentile for walk rate. While he doesn’t strike batters out at nearly the same elite clip, he still ranked in the 80th percentile for strikeout rate. If he can limit hard hit contact more in 2025, he’ll give himself a much better chance at taking home the award.