The second half of the season is underway and injuries are already making an impact on the MVP and Cy Young races. There is a new leader in the clubhouse for AL Cy Young, while the NL Cy Young, and the NL MVP has become interesting for the first time all season after Shohei Ohtani‘s knee injury and Jacob Misiorowski‘s arm fatigue. All odds are courtesy of DraftKings.
National League Cy Young Poll
1. Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers (-245)
2026 Stats: 115.0 IP, 10-4, 1.57 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 173 K, 28 BB, .152 OBA
Jacob Misirowski could be in trouble and his first Cy Young award is at risk. After being pulled after only 4.0 innings and 65 pitches in his previous start against the Mets, it’s clear that Misirowski’s health will be in question down the stretch of this season.
With the heat that he throws, Misirowski has made a name for himself, but at 24-years-old, he hasn’t put this time of wear and tear on his 6-foot-7 and 200 lbs frame. If Misirowski skips a few games or isn’t going past 5.0 innings for the next couple of starts, then it may be time to consider one of the veterans for the No. 1 spot in the Cy Young rankings.
2. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies (+800)
2026 Stats: 100.0 IP, 10-2, 2.16 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 117 K, 22 BB, .186 OBA
Zack Wheeler is a man on a mission lately! Since being left out of the initial All-Star team, Wheeler took it personally and turned that news to fuel. In July, Wheeler owns a 2.55 ERA, .215 OBA, and 43 strikeouts to three walks over 24.2 innings (four starts). Wheeler has racked up at least nine strikeouts in four consecutive starts and two or fewer earned runs in eight of the last nine games. The 36-year-old is pitching his best ball of the year right now.
3. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves (+1000)
2026 Stats: 105.0 IP, 10-6, 2.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 123 K, 25 BB, .221 OBA
Chris Sale has been nearly perfect over his last two starts with 11 strikeouts to one walk and no earned runs over 10.0 innings. Sale only trails Misiorowski in ERA this season as he’s permitted two or less earned runs in 15 out of 18 starts. In July, Sale has a 1.80 ERA and .204 OBA, which ranks 11th and 17th across the MLB.
Long Shot: Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds (+2000)
2026 Stats: 107.2 IP, 12-1, 2.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 124 K, 39 BB, .204 OBA
The Reds have now won seven straight starts when Chase Burns is on the mound and 11 out of the past 12. Burns has been automatic for Cincinnati this season and has yet to get the respect he deserves for the year he’s having.
Burns has yielded two or fewer earned runs in 16 out of 19 starts this season and he’s coming off his sixth game with zero earned runs. The 23-year-old from Naples, Italy has made a dramatic jump in his second season and should finish top five in Cy Young voting because of it.
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
American League Cy Young Poll
1. Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays (+140)
2026 Stats: 104.1 IP, 6-5, 2.67 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 155 K, 45 BB, .196 OBA
Dylan Cease went into the All-Star break with a near no-hitter as he went 8.0 innings strong against the Giants with 11 strikeouts and three walks. Before that, Cease went 7.0 innings of three-hit ball and no earned runs at the Mariners. That was 15-straight innings of no runs allowed entering the break.
To start the second half, Cease went 6.0 innings and allowed three earned runs with seven strikeouts to one walk in a loss to the Rays. Despite the loss, Cease is running hot and may have made this a 1A and 1B race for Cy Young.
2. Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees (+130)
2026 Stats: 123.0 IP, 9-6, 2.20 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 145 K, 25 BB, .205 OBA
Cam Schlittler has been caught in the Cy Young race and it seems to be neck and neck now. Schlittler didn’t make it five innings in his last start versus the Dodgers, which resulted in a loss, and his ERA for June was a 3.38 and 2.84 in July so far, which are both sharp declines from May. He’s allowed 12 combined earned runs in his last four starts and failed to make it through five innings in two of those four.
3. Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox (+1700)
2026 Stats: 101.2 IP, 12-1, 2.48 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 90 K, 28 BB, .229 OBA
Boston is coming off a historic stretch of winning 15 straight games — which tied a franchise record. The Red Sox have a lot of reasons why they’re successful, but one of the cornerstones of the success for this Boston team all year has been Sonny Gray.
The Red Sox are 14-4 in his 18 starts and won five straight and eight of the last nine. Gray has a 1.50 ERA in July with three earned runs over 18.0 innings of work and three starts versus the Angels, Mets, and Rays — earning wins in all three. Gray’s only loss came back on April 14 in a 6-0 result versus the Twins.
Long Shot: Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers (+4000)
2026 Stats: 105.1 IP, 7-6, 3.76 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 128 K, 24 BB, .219 OBA
Jacob deGrom posted a 3.00 ERA in June, but has a 6.52 ERA in July — his worst of the season. The veteran has allowed 23 earned runs in the last six games and seven in the past two. deGrom is not helping himself of getting back in the Cy Young race. He’s positioned himself with the rest of the long shots for this award such as Logan Gilbert, Joe Ryan, and Gavin Williams. deGrom should be in the mix as on the outside looking in the rest of the season unless Texas goes on a Boston-like run and deGrom racks up wins.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
American League MVP Poll
1. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros (-285)
2026 Stats: .328 BA, 34 HR, 77 RBI, 69 R, .433 OBP, 1.089 OPS
Yordan Alavarez is having his best month of the season in July. Alvarez is hitting .397 with a 1.300 OPS, plus eight home runs and 17 RBI over 16 games. The 29-year-old slugger is having a career season and currently riding a nine-game hitting streak and three consecutive with two or more hits. In the last week, Alvarez totaled his fifth game this year with two home runs in a game.
2. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays (+500)
2026 Stats: .290 BA, 29 HR, 62 RBI, 65 R, .559 SLG, .940 OPS
The All-Star Game and Home Run Derby did not affect Junior Caminero‘s game whatsoever. To start the second half, Caminero has a hit in seven straight games and recorded a multi-hit performance in four of those seven and three straight. It’s safe to say Caminero has the best chance of anyone to catch Alavarez for MVP and the Rays’ season success compared to the Astros’ will be another advantage that Caminero has.
3. Ben Rice, New York Yankees (+1300)
2026 Stats: .277 BA, 30 HR, 71 RBI, 66 R, .590 SLG, .956 OPS
Ben Rice has come out swinging in July. Rice is posting a .317 batting average, 1.125 OPS, and has seven homers and 17 RBI over 17 games. The Yankees are 9-8 in that stretch, so the winning hasn’t come with the hot play, but Rice has put himself back into the conversation.
Long shot: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (+2500)
2026 Stats: .279 BA, 13 HR, 39 RBI, 51 R, .350 OBP, .800 OPS
Bobby Witt Jr. has gone on the 10-day IL after feeling stiffness in his back. Witt was hitting .196 in July and .162 over the last 37 at-bats, so it’s obvious that the back spasms he’s been dealing with has affected his play too much to continue. That has dropped Witt to a long shot for MVP and given the Royals’ 43-60 record — Witt’s MVP hopes are all but toast.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
National League MVP Poll
1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (-550)
2026 Stats: .283 BA, 22 HR, 60 RBI, 66 R, 8-2 record, 1.79 ERA, .180 OBA
Shohei Ohtani is dealing with a left knee injury that will cause him to miss some starts on the mound indefinitely due to irritation. While he won’t be pitching anytime soon (1.79 ERA, 8-2 record), Ohtani will continue hitting.
So far in July, Ohtani is hitting .222, which would be his worst batting average of any month this season, plus his four home runs and 10 RBI are the fewest of any month. Ohtani’s injury and poor hitting has cracked the door slightly for a guy like Pete Crow-Armstrong to get in the mix.
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (+380)
2026 Stats: .282 BA, 21 HR, 55 RBI, 66 R, 25 SB, .900 OPS
In June, Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) was on fire and climbed into the MVP race behind a .381 batting average, 11 homers, 20 RBI, and 21 runs scored. He hasn’t skipped a beat in July. PCA is hitting .273 with 12 runs scored, 9 RBI, three home runs, and five stolen bases over 16 games.
The 24-year-old has taken a significant leap in his fourth season going from a .247 batting average to .282. He also waked 29 times last season over 157 games and has 52 this season as he’s improved his plate discipline. PCA should shatter his career-high 31 home runs, 91 runs scored, and 95 RBI from last year, setting up him for a run at MVP if Ohtani misses time.
3. James Wood, Washington Nationals (+3500)
2026 Stats: .270 BA, 28 HR, 69 RBI, 94 R, 15 SB, .947 OPS
James Wood leads the MLB in runs scored (21), and ranks top three in OPS (1.293), home runs (7), SLG (.807), and is tied fourth for RBI (17) during July.
On the season, nobody has crossed home plate more than Wood (94), who has scored 23 more times than second-place Bryan Reynolds (71). Wood also leads the MLB in walks (81), third in doubles (25), and tied 12th with 107 hits. If the Nationals make the playoffs, Wood better receive some top second and third place votes for MVP.
Long Shot: Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals (+7500)
2026 Stats: .289 BA, 22 HR, 76 RBI, 64 R, .517 SLG, .868 OPS
Jordan Walker had an epic performance in the Home Run Derby knocking off Philadelphia’s own Kyle Schwarber amid a breakout season for the 24-year-old. Walker is riding a 12-game hitting streak and has a hit in 21 out of the last 23 games. In July, Walker is having his best month hitting .313 with 17 runs scored and 18 RBI over 18 games. The Cardinals are jumbled up in a hotpot of teams for the final NL Wild Card spot. If St. Louis makes the postseason, expect Walker to finish top five in MVP voting ahead of guys like Juan Soto, Corbin Carroll, and Bryce Harper.
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Read the full article here