Paul Skenes Leads 2026 NL Cy Young Race as Elite Arms Compete for Hardware

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — May 9, 2026: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates warms up before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The National League Cy Young Award race in 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with a star-studded field of pitchers vying for baseball’s top pitching honor. FanDuel Sportsbook’s latest odds list Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes as the early favorite at +210 to repeat as NL Cy Young winner after claiming the award in 2025.

Skenes Starts Strong Despite Workload Concerns

Skenes has picked up right where he left off, posting a 5-2 record, a 2.36 ERA, and a league-leading 0.71 WHIP through his first seven starts. He has also recorded 46 strikeouts, but there are growing concerns about his pitch count and durability. Skenes has averaged fewer than five innings per start this season, with several outings ending before the fifth frame.

Sanchez, Sale, Ohtani, and Yamamoto Join the Fray

Behind Skenes, the next tier of candidates is packed with elite talent:

• Cristopher Sanchez (PHI, +390) — The Philadelphia Phillies left-hander has been nearly unhittable in his last two starts, allowing zero runs and just nine hits over 15 innings while striking out 12. He is 4-2 on the season with a 2.11 ERA (eighth in MLB) and 67 strikeouts (second in MLB). Sanchez signed a six-year extension before the season and is delivering on his new contract.
• Chris Sale (ATL, +500) — The Atlanta Braves veteran left-hander, a 2024 Cy Young winner, is off to another strong start with a 6-2 record. Sale leads MLB with seven quality starts and ranks among the league leaders in ERA (2.20, 11th), strikeouts (57, 10th), and WHIP (0.88, 4th). However, durability remains a question at age 37; Sale has topped 158 innings just once since 2018.
• Shohei Ohtani (LAD, +700) — The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star is making a strong case for the Cy Young with a 0.97 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 37 innings in six starts. Ohtani’s mound usage will be closely monitored, as he has never been a full-time pitcher since his 2023 UCL tear.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD, +850) — Yamamoto finished third in 2025 Cy Young voting behind Skenes and Sanchez and is off to another impressive start. The Dodgers’ rotation depth and Ohtani’s workload could impact Yamamoto’s candidacy.

Young Arms Add Depth to the Race

Beyond the top-tier candidates, a group of baseball’s best young power arms are also in the mix. The Milwaukee Brewers’ Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, the San Diego Padres’ Yu Darvish, and the New York Mets’ Kodai Senga are among the pitchers who could surge into contention with sustained dominance.