The National and American Leagues have new faces in the race for Cy Young and MVP as we near the All-Star Weekend.
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Junior Caminero are having dominant June’s, but could it all be smoke and mirrors while chasing Shohei Ohtani and Yordan Alvarez? Drew Rasmussen and Chris Sale gained some ground in the Cy Young market, but can anyone catch Cam Schlittler and Jacob Misiorowski in the second half of the year?
National League Cy Young Poll
1. Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers (-225)
2026 Stats: 99.0 IP, 9-3, 1.45 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 156 K, 27 BB, .144 OBA
Jacob Misiorowski threw a 105.5 mph heater on the third pitch of the game against the Cubs in his previous start, which is the third-hardest throw since tracking started in 2008. With the All-Star break around the corner, Misiorowski is the overwhelming favorite as he continues to set records in what seems like every start.
In June, Misiorowski has a 0.96 ERA (3rd), 0.64 WHIP (4th), 38 strikeouts (T-4th) and an MLB-leading .128 OBA. He was even better in May with a 0.28 ERA (2nd), .109 OBA (1st), 0.52 WHIP (1st), and 57 strikeouts (1st). Nobody has pitched better since May.
2. Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies (+350)
2026 Stats: 110.0 IP, 9-3, 2.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 127 K, 21 BB, .238 OBA
Cristopher Sanchez put a little distance between himself and Misiorowski in his previous start and not in a good way. Against Washington, Sanchez allowed seven hits and five earned runs over 5.0 innings. That was the second-most hits and earned runs allowed this season by Sanchez.
Sanchez did have another questionable start against the Brewers on June 14, which makes two of his worst starts on the season coming over the last three games. Sanchez will face the Pirates and Royals before the All-Star weekend, which couldn’t be coming at a better time for him.
3. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves (+2000)
2026 Stats: 90.0 IP, 8-6, 3.10 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 109 K, 22 BB, .224 OBA
Chris Sale jumps Paul Skenes in this week’s rankings. The Pirates have now lost eight straight Skenes’ starts and he’s posting a 3.58 ERA in June compared to Sale’s 2.35 ERA.
Sale has now allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of the last 12 games and 13 out of 15 starts. At 37-years-old, Sale is having an outstanding half to his season. He is coming his second double-digit strikeout game on the year and his seventh consecutive game without a home run allowed. His 0.77 ERA over his past two starts ranks fourth in the MLB and tied for 9th with 17 strikeouts.
Long Shot: Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds (+3000)
2026 Stats: 91.2 IP, 9-1, 2.36 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 112 K, 29 BB, .208 OBA
Chase Burns set a season-high with 10 strikeouts against the Pirates in his previous start, but also tied a season-high with five earned runs allowed. The performance dropped Burns ERA from 2.00 to 2.36 and his OBA from below a .200. However, he earned a no decision so his 9-1 record stayed intact. (2nd-most wins), which will be how he can earn some backend votes for third, fourth, or fifth place in Cy Young voting.
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. Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees (-115)
2026 Stats: 100.0 IP, 8-4, 1.62 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 118 K, 20 BB, .197 OBA
Cam Schlittler isn’t apparently going to slow down anytime soon. The ace has four straight games of one or fewer earned run and two total in that span. Oddly, Schlittler had zero earned runs in his last start and earned a loss because of an error that sent an inning sideways with four runs allowed.
Schlittler hasn’t recorded an ERA of 2.00 or higher in a single month yet this season. He has two or fewer earned runs allowed in 14 out of 17 starts, totaled six or more strikeouts in 13, and given up one or less walk in 10. Schlittler has been nothing short of a stud in his second season.
2. Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays (+300)
2026 Stats: 83.1 IP, 4-4, 3.02 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 128 K, 40 BB, .207 OBA
Dylan Cease is keeping it close in the AL Cy Young race, but he hasn’t done enough lately to gain any traction. Cease recorded his fifth double-digit strikeout performance of the season in his last start and second in June.
Unfortunately, Cease earned the loss over 4.2 innings and surrendered four earned runs, tied for the second-most on his season. Lately, his control is all over the place. Cease has 13 walks in the last three games and a season-high five in his last start. Cease’s 40 walks on the season is twice as much as Schlittler in 16.2 fewer innings.
3. Drew Rasmussen, Tampa Bay Rays (+900)
2026 Stats: 92.0 IP, 7-4, 2.45 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 94 K, 16 BB, .191 OBA
Don’t look now if you’re a fan of an AL East team that is not the Rays, but Drew Rasmussen is putting on a show. Rasmussen has a 3-2 record over five starts in June and posting a 0.82 ERA (2nd), .142 OBA (4th), 0.61 WHIP (T-1st), and 39 strikeouts (2nd) over 33.0 innings (T-5th).
Tampa Bay currently owns the American League’s best record (48-33) overthrowing the Yankees in the process. The No. 1 seed has helped and will continue to assist Rasmussen’s case for Cy Young, but he will have to continue to build off his stellar June and not a his 4.13 ERA in May.
Long Shot: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers (+6000)
2026 Stats: 59.2 IP, 3-4, 3.32 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 66 K, 8 BB, .230 OBA
Tarik Skubal has not allowed nine earned runs in his first three starts back with 16 hits over 16.1 innings. Not exactly the numbers you want for Skubal, but his control is there with 21 strikeouts to two walks. The home run ball continues to be an issue with three given up in the last game versus the Yankees and six over his three starts back. Skubal’s odds dropped from +3500 to +6000 after the Yankees start. He’s going to need a dominant second half to get back in the conversation and keep his Cy Young three-peat alive.
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 (-155)
2026 Stats: .311 BA, 25 HR, 56 RBI, 58 R, .426 OBP, 1.039 OPS
Yordan Alvarez hasn’t hit a home run in six games, tied for his second-longest streak of the season. Seven games is the longest stretch without a homer, which is crazy to think he’s hit a home run over a seven day span every week all year. Alvarez is also hitless over the last four games, which is the longest stretch of the season — giving Nick Kurtz and company a route to catching him in the early MVP race.
2. Nick Kurtz, Athletics (+250)
2026 Stats: .279 BA, 19 HR, 64 RBI, 59 R, .423 OBP, .948 OPS
Nick Kurtz was gaining major momentum in the MVP conversation, but that has started to cool off as he’s in a mini slump. Over the last six games, Kurtz is hitting .136 with three hits, 10 strikeouts, and one walk in 22 at-bats. However, those six games came on the road and Kurtz is hitting .308 at home versus .252 on the road. With the Dodgers on deck and a matchup with Tarik Skubal in a week, Kurtz has some star power he can take advantage of.
3: Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays (+2000)
2026 Stats: .292 BA, 22 HR, 49 RBI, 52 R, .548 SLG, .932 OPS
Junior Caminero is coming off a historic week. Caminero crushed seven home runs over six games, including three in one game against the Royals. He is hitting .423 with a 1.231 SLG and 1.731 OPS in that span off 11 hits over 26 at-bats. Caminero’s seven home runs over six games is tied for the most by a hitter at the age of 22 or younger dating all the way back to 1900.
With the Rays leading the American League and Caminero having one of the best weeks of the season, he is now my No. 3 and should be top five on everyone’s list. Caminero hit .305 in May and is hitting .323 in June with 14 home runs between the two months, so he isn’t a one week wonder.
Long shot: Ben Rice, New York Yankees (+1300)
2026 Stats: .272 BA, 22 HR, 53 RBI, 56 R, .566 SLG, .928 OPS
Ben Rice has taken a step back in the MVP race as he’s currently hitless over his last four games. Rice is hitting .074 in last 27 at-bats and .196 over the previous 56 at-bats. To put the cherry on top, Rice owns a .202 batting average in June, which is the personal worst for any month this season. The Yankees also lost sole possession of the AL East lead, which hasn’t helped Rice’s case either.
National League MVP Poll
1. Shoehi Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (-1600)
2026 Stats: .296 BA, 17 HR, 44 RBI, 54 R, .418 OBP, .976 OPS
Shohei Ohtani is eating at the plate. In June, Ohtani is hitting .333 with an 1.093 OPS, seven home runs, 16 RBI, 16 walks, and 22 runs scored on 27 hits. Ohtani is posting some monthly-highs in a few hitting areas, while still earning wins as the starting pitcher.
Ohtani has a 3.28 ERA in June, which doesn’t matchup with his April and May numbers, but the ace still is 3-0 with 25 strikeouts to seven walks with a .222 OBA over four starts (24.2 innings). It’s going to be a hard case for anyone to be more valuable than Ohtani.
2. Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies (+3500)
2026 Stats: .256 BA, 30 HR, 54 RBI, 54 R, .591 SLG, .962 OPS
After hitting three home runs in a game last week, Kyle Schwarber became the first player to 30 home runs on Sunday with a little over two weeks until the All-Star break. Schwarber is hitting .310 in June with eight home runs and a 1.015 OPS. The 33-year-old has been raking and posting the best month of the season at the plate.
3. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (+3000)
2026 Stats: .278 BA, 17 HR, 45 RBI, 51 R, 20 SB, .868 OPS
Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) is having one heck of a June, but can he keep it up in the second half of the season? PCA is hitting .367 this month with eight stolen bases, 10 home runs, 18 runs, and 19 RBI over 98 at-bats. However, the Cubs’ star is slowing down with a .185 batting average over the last week (27 at-bats).
Chicago is 12-4 in the last 16 games he’s played and he’s played like a star in a lot of them. It appears PCA has taken another step in his evolution and it’s likely to net him some MVP votes this season.
Long Shot: James Wood, Washington Nationals (+5500)
2026 Stats: .258 BA, 20 HR, 49 RBI, 72 R, 13 SB, .384 OBP
James Wood is a slump, which has been a rarity this season. Wood is hitting .133 in his last 30 at-bats and .179 over the past 56 at-bats. It’s been 13 consecutive games Wood has failed to hit a home run and he’s gone hitless in seven of the previous 11 games. The Nationals have stayed afloat (43-42 record) despite his slump over the last two weeks.
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
