2024 MLB ROY odds: Jackson Merrill tightens race with Paul Skenes for NL ROY

The race for MLB Rookie of the Year in the NL is heating up!

At one point, it looked like Paul Skenes was going to run away with the NL ROY, as he had surged to the top of the betting board. And in early August, he had become a huge favorite to win the award, at -5000.

But, the odds are on the move!

Let's take a look at the ROY betting board in the National League at DraftKings Sportsbook as of August 23.

2024 NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ODDS:

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates: -130 (bet $10 to win $17.69 total) 
Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)
Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Tyler Fitzgerald, San Francisco Giants: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) 
Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)

Skenes's odds have shifted all the way to -130, moving from -180 over the last two weeks.

So who is closing the gap?

Jackson Merrill has skyrocketed up the betting board.

San Diego's rookie center fielder has surged to -105 from +100 over the last few days and from +1500 over the last two weeks. 

When FOX Sports MLB writer Rowan Kavner asked FOX MLB lead analyst John Smoltz if he thought Merrill had done enough to supplant Skenes in the Rookie of the Year race, he said the following: "He has. I would give him an inside track at finishing the year strong to get him over the edge because I'm not so sure we're going to see Skenes finish out the year, especially if Pittsburgh falls out of the playoffs; that could hurt him in voting. He's dynamic. It's not apples-to-apples."

Merrill has 18 homers on the year, and the Padres are currently 4.5 games back of the first-place Dodgers in the National League. 

Going back to Skenes, before his debut, his NL ROY odds sat at +2500. But he came out of the gates firing, and his incredible season earned him a spot on this year's All-Star Game roster.

Since being called up on May 11, the dynamic right-hander has started 15 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The No. 1 pick of the 2023 MLB Draft has shined with a 8-2 record, 2.16 ERA and 130 strikeouts. 

Rounding out the top three in the NL is Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio at +5000. 

Now, let's take a look at the ROY odds in the American League as of August 23. 

2024 AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ODDS: 

Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles: -550 (bet $10 to win $11.82 total) 
Austin Wells, New York Yankees: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total) 
Luis Gil, New York Yankees: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) 
Mason Miller, Oakland A's: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) 

In the AL, Colton Cowser is separating himself from the pack. He recently moved to -550 from -350.

Mid-July, his odds to win the award were +550. 

Kavner praised Cowser in his recent MLB rookie power rankings.

"Cowser is pacing the rookie field with 16 home runs, and as powerful as he is at the plate, I'm not sure he gets enough credit for how sensational he has been defensively. By outs above average, he has been one of the best outfielders in baseball."

Luis Gil was second on the board last week, but his odds lengthened to +1800 from +750 recently, and now he's fourth on the board behind Austin Wells and Wilyer Abreu.

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