What does the rest of the season hold for Paul Skenes?
Perhaps not the trophy he was destined to win not so long ago…
NL ROY Race Takes Twist
What Happened: Good luck finding value in MLB awards voting odds. Currently, Aaron Judge of the Yankees (-1400) and Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers (-3500) seem to have their respective league awards wrapped up. But another famous MLBer, who once seemed like a shoo-in for some hardware, might be slipping in the markets, which could present an opportunity for bettors.
Why It Matters: Paul Skenes is enjoying a sensational rookie season, highlighted so far by receiving the honor of starting the All-Star game. He’s already one of the most famous hurlers on the planet, and his ability to throw gas makes every start must-watch.
All that, and he still might not capture NL Rookie of the Year honors? It’s a two-factor problem for the Pirates ace. One is the play of Jackson Merrill of the Padres. The centerfielder has ridden scorching performances in June and August to +140 odds to win ROY in the NL, with Skenes hanging onto the lead at -180.
But another issue might be Skenes’ workload. He’s already approaching the number of innings he threw last season for LSU and in Pittsburgh’s minor league system. If the Pirates, sitting in last in the NL Central, decide to impose some pitch limits on Skenes or shut him down entirely, Merrill might just jump ahead of the fireballer and claim the trophy for himself.
The Padres are playoff bound, so Merrill will remain in the lineup through September. He’s a plus-money bet now, but his path to Rookie of the Year might just be a smoother one than Skenes faces at this point.
What We’re Watching Today
Angels at Royals (8:10 PM ET) – Seth Lugo’s first season in Kansas City began with a string of dominating performances, but the righty has come back down to earth, allowing 14 runs across his past two starts and watching his ERA tick up over three. The Angels present the perfect opportunity for Lugo to return to his dominant form from earlier this season.
Red Sox at Astros (8:10 PM ET) – The Astros continue to hold off Seattle in the AL West standings, but it’s only a four-game lead. Boston, meanwhile, has its sights on the final wild-card spot, and is only 3.5 games behind Kansas City. The stakes involved will make this series one to watch.
The Look Ahead
Taj Bradley STRIKEOUTS – The Athletics have dramatically improved their strikeout rate as a team of late, and are actually playing…decent baseball? They’ve won recent series against the Mets, Blue Jays, and White Sox. Bradley carries a 6.5 strikeout line into his start tonight, a total he hasn’t topped in three consecutive outings. We’ll (nervously) show confidence in Oakland and side with the under on Bradley’s prop.
