Chris Sale listed as +8000 longshot in 2023 A.L. Cy Young odds
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A perfect start to Spring Training notwithstanding, expectations remain tempered for the Boston Red Sox’ 2023 season. Their win total of 77.5 projects a sub-.500 season while their +300 odds to make the American League playoffs paint an even more grim picture.
The low expectations continue into the player awards, where oft-injured ace Chris Sale finds himself a +8000 longshot to regain his 2013 to 2018 form, which saw him finish no lower than fifth - and as high as second (2017) - in A.L. Cy Young voting.
The odds in the table above come from FanDuel Sportsbook, which is actually most optimistic on Sale. The soon-to-be 34-year-old is +15000 at Caesars Sportsbook and not even on the board in the Cy Young odds at DraftKings.
NEW STATE LAUNCH! 21+ and present in Massachusetts. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.Sale’s career was derailed by Tommy John surgery back in 2020, which kept him out for over a year. That surgery coupled with two more freak injuries (broken finger, fractured wrist) have limited Sale to just 47.1 innings since the 2019 season, including just 5.2 IPs in 2022.
While it was obviously a very limited sample size, Sale was reasonably effective in his brief appearances last year, posting a 3.18 ERA and 2.44 FIP with a 1.059 WHIP and 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Sale is cautiously optimistic about his health heading into 2023. He told reporters in January, “[I feel] good. I started playing catch when I always do in the offseason. Been playing long toss for a little bit now ... As of now, we’re right where we need to be. Don’t say it too loud.”
If he stays healthy, Sale figures to get the Opening Day start for an experienced-but-underwhelming Boston rotation. Sale will be backed up by some combination of Corey Kluber, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock, James Paxton, and rookie Brayan Bello. Only Whitlock (3.45) had an ERA under four last season. Paxton has only pitched 1.1 innings over the past two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and has yet to debut for the Sox, despite signing with the team last offseason.
NEW STATE LAUNCH! 21+ and present in Massachusetts. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.The top of the board is filled with familiar names, though one won’t be so familiar to American Leaguers. Texas Rangers acquisition and three-time N.L. Cy Young-winner Jacob deGrom is the +550 favorite entering his first season on the Junior Circuit. DeGrom is also coming back from an injury-shortened season, limited to just 64.1 innings in 2022 mostly due to a shoulder injury.
Just behind deGrom on the list is two-time runner-up Gerrit Cole of the Yankees at +700. Cole managed just over 200 innings last season, but underperformed by his own lofty standards. He recorded a 3.50 ERA and 3.47 FIP. His 33 home runs allowed were the most in the majors and he finished just 9th in Cy Young voting. Last year was the second straight season Cole had an ERA over three, which followed a run of three straight under that benchmark.
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