Wheeler an early favorite for NL Cy Young.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler has assembled an impressive resume during his 10-year MLB career, but the closest he has come to securing a Cy Young Award was a runner-up finish in 2021.
If the early sports betting odds are any indication, Wheeler’s best chance at claiming his first Cy Young honor might be in the 2024 MLB season.
According to the BetMGM online sportsbook, Wheeler is the favorite with +500 odds to win the NL Cy Young Award.
For anyone new to sports betting, a $10 bet would net $50 in winnings if Wheeler does secure the award.
Since the season began, Wheeler’s odds have gone from +750 to +500, primarily due to the injury of preseason favorite Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves.
Following the latest odds movement, the implied probability of Wheeler winning the award has jumped about 5%, from 11.8% to 16.7%.
Even without a Cy Young Award on his resume, Wheeler has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the league since joining the Phillies in 2020. He leads all pitchers with an fWAR of 20 over that span.
Wheeler has made 104 starts with Philadelphia, posting a 3.03 ERA, 695 strikeouts, and 137 walks over 648 1/3 innings. During his best campaign in 2021, Wheeler led the National League with 247 strikeouts across 213 1/3 frames.
So far this season, Wheeler has been his typical self to lead a talented Phillies rotation. He has whiffed 20 batters in 19 innings. He has been charged with four earned runs in three starts, leading to an impressive 1.89 ERA.
Wheeler isn’t the only NL Cy Young contender on Philadelphia’s staff, either.
Aaron Nola is +2500 to win the same award, meaning a $10 bet would result in a $250 payout. At those odds, Nola’s implied probability is 3.8%, which ranks 10th in that market at BetMGM.
It’s certainly early in the season, but the Phillies appear to have two formidable challengers in the race to be the best pitcher in the league in 2024.
