The injury bug has delivered a massive blow to Gerrit Cole’s bid for a second straight American League Cy Young Award.
The Yankees ace, who was a consensus favorite to repeat less than a week ago, is out at least 1 to 2 months with an elbow injury, The Post first reported Wednesday, and is now +2200 to win the award, which are the 10th-best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. He had been +500 at Bet365 as of March 7.
The odds shift comes with the 33-year-old in Los Angeles to meet with noted sports surgeon Dr. Neal El Attrache.
The hope and belief is that Cole can return sometime in May or early June, leaving little shot at winning his second Cy Young.
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman, who finished third in the AL Cy Young voting in 2023, took over as a +650 favorite to win the award.
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Gerrit Cole was the AL Cy Young favorite until the injury news. Getty Images AL Cy Young odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kevin Gasuman | +650 |
| Framber Valdez | +800 |
| Corbin Burnes | +800 |
| Tarik Skubal | +900 |
| Luis Castillo | 10/1 |
| George Kirby | 13/1 |
| Pablo Lopez | 14/1 |
| Cole Ragans | 18/1 |
| Grayson Rodriguez | 20/1 |
| Gerrit Cole | 22/1 |
Gausman is trailed by Framber Valdez (+800), Corbin Burnes (+800), and Tarik Skubal (+900), who are the only other pitchers with odds better than 10/1.
Cole will miss extended time for the first time in pinstripes.
The right-hander has been one of the most durable pitchers in baseball in recent seasons, leading the majors in innings (1,279 ⅔) and making at least 30 starts in every full season since 2017.
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The Yankees will now turn to Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman, who are both Cy Young long shots, sitting at +5000 and +6500, respectively, to steer the top of their rotation during the early going.
Brian Cashman and Co. could opt to look for starting pitching help outside of the organization.
Free agents Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell – who won last year’s National League Cy Young – remain available.
