MLB

Finding Betting Value in the Odds for the 2018 National League Cy Young Award

John Stolnis  —  @johnstolnis Jun 7th, 2018
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Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Odds: 20/1

Stephen Strasburg doesn't have the numbers his teammate Max Scherzer does, but there is no doubt he is one of the best arms in the NL. And it has been that way since he returned from Tommy John surgery in 2012.

His 3.20 ERA this season ranks 13th among qualified NL starters, with his 3.44 FIP 15th. Like Scherzer, Strasburg is a strikeout artist, whiffing batters 29.3% of the time this season, fifth-best in the National League. Opponents are hitting just .218 against him, and his WHIP of 1.07 is seventh-best, so it's clear the guy is having yet another fantastic season.

However, his 1.3 fWAR ranks behind not only Scherzer, but another rotation mate, Gio Gonzalez, for the 15th-best in the NL. He hasn't been quite as sharp as the pitchers ahead of him on this list, but a red-hot second half could certainly catapult him into the Cy Young conversation.

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