Pitchers favored to win Rookie of the Year races

This article was contributed by BetMGM. For more sports betting insights, check out BetMGM.com.

In recent years, pitchers have been at a disadvantage to hitters in the Rookie of the Year races. It’s challenging to contend with players who are in the lineup putting up counting stats regularly.

Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers is the lone pitcher to win Rookie of the Year in the past seven seasons, doing so in a COVID-shortened campaign in 2020. Shohei Ohtani was a two-way player when he claimed the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2018.

But with most teams reaching the 50-game threshold, the BetMGM online sportsbook has a pair of hurlers at the top of both rookie award markets.

Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller is the betting favorite in the AL with +150 odds or an implied probability of 40%. Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga is a -110 favorite (52.38%) in the NL race.

The last time two pitchers swept both leagues was in 2011. Starter Jeremy Hellickson claimed the honor for the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL, while Craig Kimbrel recorded 46 saves for the Atlanta Braves in the NL.

While Imanaga has better odds of winning the award, he arguably faces the toughest competition.

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (+425), as well as Pittsburgh Pirates starters Paul Skenes (+600) and Jared Jones (+700), are all within striking distance after promising starts to their MLB careers.

Imanaga entered the year with a +1600 value in this market, trailing Yamamoto as the preseason favorite with +250 odds. Imanaga is 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA through nine starts, striking out 58 batters and walking nine across 53 2/3 innings.

Miller, meanwhile, started the season entirely off the board. BetMGM recently added him to the market, making him the favorite.

In 16 appearances, Miller has posted a 0.89 ERA and nine saves. He has struck out 41 batters and walked five in 20 1/3 innings.

Miller’s most prominent challenger is the Orioles’ Colton Cowser, who has +250 odds.

New York Yankees starter Luis Gil (+600), Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu (+750) and Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (+800) all remain in the mix based on the latest odds.

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