2018 AL Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Listed at 16-1 to Repeat

• Tampa Bay pitcher Blake Snell is fifth in the odds to win the 2019 AL Cy Young Award at +1600
• Snell won the AL Cy Young last season
• No pitcher has won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000

When it comes to the 2019 American League Cy Young Award, the odds of Blake Snell turning two are long indeed.

We back 😏 https://t.co/QOWQFqYQMI

— Blake Snell (@snellzilla4) March 1, 2019

Online sportsbooks list the Tampa Bay Rays southpaw at odds of +1600 to repeat his Cy Young Award-winning performance in 2019.

2019 AL Cy Young Award Odds

*All odds taken 03/07/2019. Follow link for complete list.

Just four pitchers have won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards since it was first presented in 1967.

There’s Plenty of Contenders

Including Snell, three of the top five with the best odds to win the 2019 AL Cy Young Award are pitchers who’ve been there and done that. Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber is the chalk to claim the honor, as he’s previously done in 2014 and 2017. Fourth betting choice Justin Verlander was the AL Cy Young Award winner in 2011.

Rookie of the Year
Cy Young
AL MVP
Over $175,000,000 in career earnings
Engaged to Kate Upton
NOW… Justin Verlander is a World Series Champion….

…man…when is this dude gonna catch a break? pic.twitter.com/krCNmKdnJl

— Clay Shaver (@CoachCTShaver) November 2, 2017

In total, there are seven active AL pitchers who already have their name on the award: Rick Porcello of the Boston Red Sox (2016), Porcello’s BoSox teammate David Price (2012), Felix Hernandez (2010) of the Seattle Mariners, and CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees (2007).

An Ominous Start for Snell

Snell was 21-5 with a 1.89 earned-run average and 221 strikeouts last season, but his 2019 spring training debut was very un-Cy Young like. He was lit up and chased in the first inning by the University of South Florida.

Blake Snell's final line: .2 IP, 29 pitches, 2 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP #RaysUp

— Olivia Stacey (@Olivia_Stacey) March 5, 2019

Snell allowed two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman. Just 15 of his 29 pitches were strikes.

#Rays starter Blake Snell on his performance tonight, called his fastball command ‘crap’ pic.twitter.com/Z9F2MCVeiZ

— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) March 6, 2019

Just like one-hit wonders in the music industry, there can be one-hill wonders in the Cy Young department as well.

Consider the curious case of Porcello. He was 22-4 in his Cy Young season. Then in 2017, he suffered a career-high 17 losses and surrendered an MLB-worst 38 home runs.

Not that we’re suggesting this fate is what awaits Snell.

#Rays Cash on the decision to start Blake Snell on Opening Day: “I think that decision was made in 2018.”

— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 7, 2019

The Rays certainly aren’t panicking over a flubbed preseason outing against inferior opposition. Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash already pegged Snell as his opening-day starter.

Two in a Row is Rarely How it Goes

You can count the pitchers who’ve won consecutive AL Cy Young Awards on one hand. It’s only been done four times by three pitchers.

“I’ll give you the entire list of (starting) pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERa since the DH: Ron Guidry, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and Blake Snell. Pretty good.” – Tom Verducci, presenting Snell with the AL Cy Young Award pic.twitter.com/J87ArhMBq2

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 27, 2019

Pedro Martinez achieved this feat most recently in 1999-2000. Roger Clemens (1997-98, 1986-87) turned it twice. Jim Palmer did it in 1974-75, and that’s it.

Snell could have very good season and not even come close to getting a sniff at the Cy Young.

There were some close calls while being down in the count, but Corey Kluber went an incredible 38(!) days without walking anyone, including his dog.

We didn't mind helping out the 2-time Cy Young winner. 😎#CyKluber | #RallyTogether https://t.co/4iQRY7nKHF

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) November 13, 2018

Our advice would be to put your money on Corey Kluber. It’s hard to look past a guy who’s averaged 18.6 wins over the past three seasons. You know he’ll rack up plenty of W’s against those inferior AL Central clubs.