All-Star Break MVP & Cy Young Odds: Who’s Hot?

NL Cy Young Front‑Runner: Jacob Misiorowski

Jacob Misiorowski leads the National League Cy Young race with 111.0 innings, a 10‑4 record, 1.62 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 167 strikeouts and 27 walks. His recent 4‑3 win over St. Louis gave him back‑to‑back double‑digit strikeout games (10 and 11) and widened his strikeout lead across the league. He is the only MLB pitcher with a sub‑2.00 ERA entering the break, making him the clear favorite in DraftKings odds.

Chasing Misiorowski: Cristopher Sanchez

Cristopher Sanchez sits second with 120.1 innings, 10‑4, 2.62 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 137 strikeouts and 24 walks. A rough 15‑1 loss to the Royals highlighted his struggles: nine earned runs on 12 hits in 3.1 innings, one strikeout, and a season‑worst performance. His last three starts carry an 8.22 ERA and .328 OBA, so the break arrives at a good time for him to reset.

Chris Sale’s Steady June

Chris Sale remains in the mix at 95.0 IP, 9‑6, 2.27 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 112 strikeouts and 24 walks. He earned a 14‑3 win over the Mets on July 4, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and two homers while striking out just three batters—his season low for Ks. Sale posted 13 starts with two or fewer earned runs and matched that total for walks, showing durability despite his age.

Chase Burnseyes a Historic All‑Star Call‑Up

Chase Burns, 97.2 IP, 10‑1, 2.40 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 116 strikeouts and 31 walks, will pitch his first All‑Star game after one start versus Philadelphia. Only five pitchers in history have made the All‑Star roster within two years of being drafted, and Burns follows Paul Skenes’ rare path. The 23‑year‑old ace could vault from a potential No. 3 into a top‑2 Cy Young contender if his win streaks continue despite playing for a defensive‑weak team.

AL Cy Young Battle: Cam Schlittler Leads the Pack

Cam Schlittler tops the American League with 112.0 innings, 9‑5, 2.01 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 131 strikeouts and 21 walks. After giving up six runs to the Tigers, he rebounded with an eight‑strikeout, one‑earned‑run, 8.0‑inning gem against the Rays (5‑1). He now leads the AL in ERA and ranks second in WHIP, OBA, strikeouts, innings pitched and wins, making him the frontline favorite.

Dylan Cease’s Strikeout Domination

Dylan Cease, at 90.1 IP, 5‑4, 2.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 137 strikeouts and 41 walks, recorded his fourth shutout‑free game and eighth 9+‑strikeout outing against Seattle. He tossed 7.0 innings, allowed three hits and zero walks in a 2‑0 victory, and has not surrendered a home run in five straight games (five on the season). His 137 strikeouts lead the entire league, underlining his Cy Young credentials.

Drew Rasmussen’s Rollercoaster June

Drew Rasmussen, 97.0 IP, 7‑4, 2.78 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 96 strikeouts and 17 walks, enjoyed a sparkling 0.82 ERA in June before a five‑run outburst against Houston. That start included a season‑high five runs and a season‑low two strikeouts, tempering an otherwise strong first half. He still has one start before the break against the Yankees, where he posted a 0.00 ERA, .143 OBA, 13 strikeouts and one walk over 13.0 innings.

Tarik Skubal Shows Signs of Recovery

Tarik Skubal, 65.2 IP, 4‑4, 3.15 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 75 strikeouts and 8 walks, turned a corner with a 6.0‑inning, nine‑strikeout, one‑earned‑run performance versus the Yankees. In four starts since returning from injury he has 30 strikeouts to just two walks, though he has given up seven homers and 17 hits across 22.1 innings. His latest effort suggests he could regain the form that earned him earlier consideration for the award.

AL MVP: Yordan Alvarez Holds the Edge

Yordan Alvarez, batting .318 with 29 home runs, 67 RBI, 62 runs, .426 OBP and 1.056 OPS, entered June hitting .344 and carried that momentum into July at .381 with three homers and a 1.201 OPS in five games. His June numbers—20 runs, 21 RBI and six homers—were season highs, and he remains the top pick on the DraftKings board. If the Astros secure a playoff spot, his MVP case will only strengthen.

Rising Threat: Junior Caminero

Junior Caminero, at .284 average, 26 homers, 56 RBI, 57 runs, .554 SLG and .928 OPS, is riding a 13‑game stretch of .309 hitting with 11 home runs, 22 RBI and 13 runs. His climb has thrust him into MVP conversations, especially as Tampa Bay sits atop the AL standings. Caminero’s recent surge makes him the hottest name among the early winners in the American League.

Nick Kurtz’s Mid‑Season Slump

Nick Kurtz, a 23‑year‑old with a .275 average, 20 homers, 66 RBI, 61 runs, .415 OBP and .928 OPS, hit .250 in June and matched his strikeout total (41) with his walk and run totals (21 each). A .178 average over his last 45 at‑bats opened the door for Bobby Witt and others to close the gap. He will need a strong second half to remain in the MVP discussion as Alvarez and Caminero keep soaring.

Long Shot: Ben Rice in a Yankees Slump

Ben Rice, hitting .267 with 25 homers, 57 RBI, 59 runs, .565 SLG and .925 OPS, was once the second favorite in MVP odds but has fallen sharply. His June line of .196, 30 strikeouts and 11 walks shows a steep decline, and the Yankees’ overall struggles have amplified the drop. Without Aaron Judge, Rice was expected to carry the New York offense, but his recent performance has not delivered that promise.

NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani’s Dual Threat

Shohei Ohtani leads the National League with a .295 average, 19 homers, 55 RBI, 61 runs, .410 OBP and .946 OPS. June was his best hitting month: .333, eight homers, 23 runs and 19 RBI, placing him among the NL’s top five in OBP, SLG and OPS. As a pitcher he posted a 3.28 ERA, .222 OBA, 25 strikeouts and seven walks over four starts, backing up his MVP candidacy with two‑way excellence.

Rising Star: Pete Crow‑Armstrong

Pete Crow‑Armstrong, at .292 average, 19 homers, 49 RBI, 57 runs, 23 steals and .910 OPS, has surged into MVP consideration after a .381 June with 11 homers, 20 RBI, 40 hits and 21 runs in 26 games. He continues the hot streak into July, batting .500 with three RBI and three runs in just four games. His momentum has earned him a spot on Rotoworld’s Instagram hype and makes him a sleeper for the All‑Star Game MVP.

Kyle Schwarber’s Home Run Dry Spell

Kyle Schwarber, a .252 hitter with 30 homers, 55 RBI, 55 runs, .561 SLG and .930 OPS, has not hit a home run in his last 13 games, a stretch that includes seven consecutive games without a long ball. July started with a .176 average, three hits, ten strikeouts and five walks in five games, underscoring a dip that could hurt his MVP hopes. His power output, once his main MVP attribute, has slowed significantly.

James Wood’s Run‑Scoring Prowess

James Wood, batting .268 with 24 homers, 60 RBI, 81 runs, 14 steals and .398 OBP, leads baseball with 81 runs—second‑closest is 62. He was the only qualifier for the All‑Star Game from his team, reflecting his first‑half dominance. In addition to Wood, contenders such as Juan Soto, Jordan Walker, Bryce Harper and Corbin Carroll are also flirting with MVP consideration, yet none are expected to challenge Ohtani’s standing this season.

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