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NBC Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 MLB NL CY Young Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, including Paul Skenes vs Zack Wheeler
With the All-Star game taking place Tuesday night, it's the perfect time to break down the NL CY Young race between the 23-year-old Paul Skenes versus 35-year-old Zack Wheeler and why one player is the better bet than the other. Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long. NL CY Young: Paul Skenes (-105) vs Zack Wheeler (-125) Wheeler's calling card to voters is simple — he's never won a CY Young. At age 35, this could be Wheeler's final shot at the elusive award, but is what he's done enough or more impressive than Skenes? understand the logic of betting Wheeler, but if you've watched the two pitch this season, I think Skenes is the better of the two and arguably the best in all of baseball (Tarik Skubal says hi). However, if you look at basic stats and their consistency, you would say Wheeler has the slight edge, right? Pre All-Star Break Stats and NL Ranks Paul Skenes Zach Wheeler 2.01 ERA (1st) 2.36 ERA (6th) 122.0 innings pitched (T-3rd) .189 opponent batting average (T-3rd) .181 opponent batting average (1st) 0.93 WHIP (5th) 0.86 WHIP (2nd) 131 strikeouts (8th) 154 strikeouts (2nd) 12 starts with 0 or 1 ER allowed 11 starts with 0 or 1 ER allowed 3 games of 3 ER or more 4 games of 3 ER or more 4 wins (T-104th) 9 wins (T-8th) 8 losses (tied-20th most) 3 losses (T-4th best) If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports! There isn't much that differentiates the two besides the wins, losses, and strikeouts, which all favor Wheeler. Skenes does have 26 more ground-balls than Wheeler and seven fewer homers allowed (13 to 6), which may bother some. Skenes clearly isn't trying to be that high-rate strikeout guy like early in his rookie season, but get more efficient outs and pitch longer into games — which he's done exceptionally well. However, while wins and losses historically are a common driving factor for voters, it's becoming not as detrimental since the offense is out of the pitchers control, more so than ever with the universal DH — meaning Skenes could have the upper hand. If you haven't seen or heard about that stat by now here it is — If the Pirates would have scored four runs in each of Skenes' 42 career starts, his win-loss record would be 28-1 rather than 15-10. Insanity at its finest! While four runs is a lot for any pitcher to get, that stat is supposed to provide clarity on how poor the Pirates offense and bullpen is and why that shouldn't hold Skenes back in CY Young voting. In his career wins, Skenes has a 1.19 ERA compared to a 2.39 ERA in losses or non-decisions, so either way, he hasn't been the Buccos' problem since he arrived. This year alone, Skenes has allowed 27 runs over 20 starts and the Pirates have lost 11 of those 20 games! Pittsburgh's offense has scored the fewest runs in not just the NL, but all of baseball — even the Rockies and White Sox. For more context, the Phillies have scored 112 more runs than the Pirates in one less game. Both Skenes and Wheeler will be dominant in the second-half, I have no doubts, but Skenes could post a sub 2.00 ERA this season (was doing so through 19 starts), sub .200 OBA, and still have a losing record, which on surface level makes no sense. Despite how it looks or sounds, I think what Skenes is doing weighs more impressive, challenging, and deserving than what Wheeler is doing. Pitching under the pressure of allowing two earned runs and being almost guaranteed a loss is not common and that's what Skenes goes through every start. I played and tweeted Skenes out at +115 to win NL CY Young and would go out to -115 odds prior to his first start for the second half of the year. I already played him at +300 on Opening Day to win CY Young, so I am double-dipping. Pick: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (1u) Vaughn Dalzell's MLB Futures Card 2 units: Aaron Judge to lead MLB in home runs (+130) 2 units: Cam Smith to win AL Rookie of the Year (+150) 2 units: Jacob Misiorowski to win NL Rookie of the Year (-110) 1 unit: Shohei Ohtani to win NL MVP (-110) 1 unit: Bobby Witt to win AL MVP (+450) 1 unit: Elly De La Cruz to win NL MVP (+2000) 1 unit: Garrett Crochet to win AL CY Young (+450) 1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+115) 1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+300) 1 unit: Jacob Misiorowski to win NL Rookie of the Year (+100) 1 unit: Byron Buxton to win AL Comeback Player of the Year (+430) 1 unit: New York Yankees to win AL East (-115) 0.5 unit: Dodgers to win 117-plus games (+650) 0.5 unit: Paul Skenes to lead MLB in wins (+1400) 0.5 unit: Garrett Crochet to lead MLB in wins (+2200) 0.5 unit: Juan Soto to lead the MLB in homers (+2800) 0.5 unit: Yordan Alvarez to lead the MLB in homers (+2000) 0.5 unit: Roman Anthony to win AL Rookie of the Year (+1200) 0.5 unit: Jacob Misiorowski to win NL Rookie of the Year (+1100) 0.25 unit: Drew Pomeranz to win NL Reliever of the Year (+1500) 0.25 unit: Aaron Judge to bat .400 by the All-Star break (+800) 0.25 unit: Aaron Judge to bat .400 for the season (+5500) 0.25 unit: Oneil Cruz to lead MLB in stolen bases (+15000) Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Newsweek
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Yankees-Braves Trade Idea Gives New York Another Hard Throwing Left-Handed Pitcher
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. It was known that the Atlanta Braves may get out to a slow start while they awaited the returns of right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider and former MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. The plan wasn't quite 0-7, though, and it put the Braves in an early-season hole they just haven't been able to get out of. Atlanta is 3-11 with Strider and Acuña on the roster and it now sits at 27-33 and already 11 games out of first place in the NL East. There are no signs of things getting better, and that is why the Braves ace Chris Sale could become a perfect trade target for the New York Yankees. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 04: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park on June 04, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 04: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park on June 04, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Sale was last season's NL CY Young winner, and he is putting together another solid season on the mound. He has a 2.93 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 13 starts and 73 2/3 innings pitched. He's allowed just five earned runs in his last five starts and is doing everything he can to keep the Braves within striking distance when he takes the mound. The fit with New York is an intriguing one, as the Yankees have the ninth-best team ERA in the majors at 3.58, but some of the starters have struggled of late. Both Will Warren (5.19 ERA) and Clarke Schmidt (4.04 ERA) feel very replaceable and adding Sale to that rotation could give New York three of the top five left-handed pitchers in baseball. Sale could also return to the AL East, a division he spent six years in as a part of the Boston Red Sox. He enjoyed success in Boston, pitching to a 3.27 ERA across six seasons. With both the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays beginning to gain a little ground in the divisional race, now could be the time for New York to make a move. It is unclear if Atlanta would even be willing to trade Sale, as he does have a club option for next season. But if they do, the Yankees should be the first team on the phone trying to acquire the eight-time All Star. More MLB: This Cubs-Yankees Trade Scenario Sends Former Rival First Baseman to Chicago
