Sale Favored to Win AL Cy Young

Boston’s Chris Sale has emerged as the favorite to win the 2017 American League Cy young Award. At least according to the Westgate. Dallas Keuchel is second and Texas’ Yu Darvish has overcome a slightly shaky start to be third in the odds.

Sale is -120 at the Westgate after being +400 in March. After a disappointing season in 2016, Keuchel has moved from +1500 in March to +150. Darvish also opened at +1500 and is now +600. As far as those who have made big jumps, Ervin Santana has moved from +10000 to +1200. But not all moves are good news, as Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber have gone in the opposite direction. Verlander was +1000 to win in March and is up to +3000, while Kluber is +4000 after being +500.

There are also several newcomers to the mix; pitchers who have done much better than expected, with Dylan Bundy leading the charge. He’s currently +5000. Seattle’s James Paxton (+8000) and Toronto’s Marco Estrada (+10000) are several newcomers to make the odds sheet. Paxton has always been a mystery, being a left-hander blessed with great stuff who has never really put things together.

When looking at these types of wagers, remember that pitchers in cold-weather cities tend to well early. It’s not quite as easy when for them when the weather warms up and there’s a bit of humidity. For that reason, Sale is hard to wager on, especially being less than even money. Keuchel is also at pretty short odds and that makes it a bit risky.

Of the long shots, you could do worse than Paxton, who is second in ERA and tied for sixth in strikeouts. The Mariners do score some runs and he’ll get to face Oakland and the Angels several more times this year. You don’t expect to win with an 80-to-1 shot, but he’s one pitcher who can keep it up for a while longer.