Major League Baseball

2024 MLB odds: Shota Imanaga new NL ROY favorite; Colton Cowser lone AL favorite

Updated May. 23, 2024 12:54 p.m. ET

We're almost two months into the MLB season, and the Rookie of the Year oddsboard has already seen a major shakeup.

In the NL, Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs has surged up the board to +110 from +700 in the last month and is the new favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year. He passed the Los Angeles Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was once the overwhelming favorite.

In recent weeks, Yamamoto's odds moved to +400 from +250.

Meanwhile, in the American League, Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser has emerged as the new lone favorite at +120. Just weeks ago, he was a co-favorite with Texas Rangers' Evan Carter at +300.

Carter's odds recently moved slightly to +330.

What other rookies have shown promise early in their career?

Let's take a look at the favorites for ROY in each league at DraftKings Sportsbook, and give you FOX Sports Wagering Expert Chris "The Bear" Fallica's best bet for the NL ROY award.

2024 AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ODDS: *

Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
Evan Carter, Texas Rangers: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)
Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Luis Gil, New York Yankees: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Wenceel Perez, Detroit Tigers: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Kyle Manzardo, Cleveland Guardians: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Joey Loperfido, Houston Astros: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)

* odds as of 5/23/24

Five breakout players for MLB's 2024 season

2024 NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ODDS: *

Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Jared Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Joey Ortiz, Milwaukee Brewers: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)

* odds as of 5/23/24

FOX Sports MLB analyst Ben Verlander gave rave reviews to Pirates rookie Paul Skenes after his scintillating May 17 performance.

Less than a year after the Pittsburgh Pirates made him the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of LSU, Skenes shut down the Chicago Cubs — and any lingering doubts about his big league readiness — in his second career start," Verlander wrote. "The right-hander tossed six no-hit innings Friday while striking out 11 Cubs hitters, including the first seven he faced.

"Skenes flashed the strengths that have made him arguably the most hyped pitching prospect to reach the majors since Stephen Strasburg in 2010. He recorded 22 swings and misses and threw his fastball 41 times for an average of 99.3 mph, with 12 of those heaters registering 100 mph or above on the radar gun."

Before his debut, Skenes NL ROY odds sat at +2500. Now he is the third-strongest favorite at +500.

NL Rookie of the Year Pick via Chris "The Bear" Fallica:

Yoshiobu Yamamoto and Jackson Chourio have gotten the headlines and are of shorter odds, but the Marlins' Max Mayer is worth a play here.

Mayer was the third overall pick in 2020 and has looked good this spring, as he’s just about back from Tommy John surgery.

With Sandy Alcántara out, there should be a spot in the rotation when Meyer is ready. He’s got the stuff to make good on all the hype.

PICK: Max Meyer (+4000) to win NL ROY (at time of the pick)

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