Paul Skenes' Meteoric Rise: Dominating Odds for NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young

Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, has emerged as a runaway favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year Award and is even a strong contender for the Cy Young Award after a dominant start to his MLB career.

Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates' ace, has taken the MLB by storm since his May 11 call-up. Despite not being on the team's roster at the beginning of the season, he has propelled himself into the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award conversations.

Skenes, who began the season in Triple-A, has posted an impressive 6-1 record with a sparkling 1.99 ERA in 14 starts. He has also struck out 107 batters and walked only 19.

Paul Skenes' Meteoric Rise: Dominating Odds for NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young

His remarkable performance has made him the overwhelming favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. BetMGM, a leading sportsbook, has him at a -3000, meaning a bettor would need to wager $3,000 to win $100.

"Barring injury or [the Giants’] Tyler Fitzgerald keeping up his Barry Bonds-esque streak, the Rookie of the Year has already been decided," said Hal Egeland, BetMGM's trader and baseball aficionado.

Skenes' dominance has also made him a legitimate contender for the Cy Young Award. BetMGM has him listed as the second favorite at +185, behind only Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale.

"We opened him up at +20000, that looks like a crazy number now, but at the time, we didn't think that was the case," said Egeland. "He's a rookie who won't have as many innings as the other candidates, going to an under-league-average team...with potential innings control, due to how valuable he is to the Pirates’ future."

Skenes' rise has been compared to Shedeur Sanders' hype for the Heisman Trophy last season. However, Egeland believes that Skenes has sustained success, unlike Sanders, who tailed off in the second half of the season.

"We were going to write bets on Skenes regardless, so when he had the hot start, that really intensified," said Egeland. "The difference between Sanders and Skenes is that Skenes has had sustained success."

Skenes' meteoric rise has been a challenge for BetMGM's risk room, as they have had to adjust odds based on his performance. However, they have done so accordingly, and Skenes is now the clear favorite for both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards.

Skenes' journey is a testament to his talent and hard work. He has proven that he is not just a top prospect but a genuine star in the making. If he continues to pitch like he has been, he could become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.