Major League Baseball

2024 MLB ROY odds: Jackson Merrill closing in on Paul Skenes

Updated Aug. 15, 2024 2:09 p.m. ET

The race for MLB Rookie of the Year is heating up, and the odds are on the move!

Paul Skenes had surged to the top of the board. In early August, he had gotten as short as -5000 to win the award.

Now those odds have shifted all the way to -180.

Before his debut, Skenes' NL ROY odds sat at +2500. His incredible season earned him a spot on this year's All-Star Game roster.

Also, 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 6-2 record, 2.25 ERA and 115 strikeouts.

But now, Jackson Merrill has moved up the board and has closed the gap between himself and Paul.

San Diego's rookie center fielder surged to +140 from +1500 over the last week.

He's got 17 homers on the year, and the Padres are currently only 2.5 games back of the first-place Dodgers in the National League.

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

Let's take a look at the ROY betting board in the National League at DraftKings Sportsbook as of August 15.

2024 NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ODDS:

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates: -180 (bet $10 to win $15.56 total)
Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)
Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Tyler Fitzgerald, San Francisco Giants: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)

Now, let's take a look at the ROY odds in the American League as of August 15.

2024 AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ODDS:

Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles: -350 (bet $10 to win $12.86 total)
Luis Gil, New York Yankees: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Austin Wells, New York Yankees: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)

In the AL, Colton Cowser is separating himself from the pack. He's moved to -350 from -140 over the last week.

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

FOX Sports MLB writer Rowan Kavnar 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 is second on the board, but his odds lengthened to +450 from +250 recently.

Although he did have a June slump, Kavnar speculated that Gil may be on the other side of his fatigue.

"Gil got back on track last month, and his four-seamer actually gained velocity in the process (though it was his slider and change-up guiding his success). He allowed no more than five hits in any of his five July starts, and while free passes remain an issue, his ability to miss bats tends to get him out of trouble.

"Gil leads all rookies in both strikeouts and walks."

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