Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner, is undergoing elbow surgery in May and is expected to miss about 2 to 3 months, a timeline that likely ends his 2026 award chase. [1]
The injury opens the door for a new group of contenders at the top of the odds board. Cam Schlittler of the Yankees leads at +215 after a fast start in 2026, with Max Fried next at +350, José Soriano at +450, Dylan Cease at +550 and Jacob deGrom at +1300. [1]
Schlittler has gone 4-1 with a 1.51 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 41⅔ innings. Fried, who finished second before, is viewed as a strong contender and does not have workload limits. [1]
Soriano has put up a 5-1 record, a 0.84 ERA and 2.6 WAR, but he pitches for an Angels team that has struggled. Cease brings a track record of strong finishes, though his inconsistency and control problems remain concerns. [1]
DeGrom is also in the mix after returning from Tommy John surgery last season at age 38. He is 2-1 with a 2.01 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 31⅓ innings this year. [1]
Skubal's surgery leaves the 2026 AL Cy Young picture without the reigning favorite for at least the next several weeks, and his expected recovery window stretches into mid-summer. [1]