Paul Skenes NL Rookie of the Year Odds are Sinking Fast

The NL Rookie of the Year odds for Pirates phenom Paul Skenes are sinking faster than a Buick in the Mon. Last week, Skenes’ odds for the award hung around -6000. As of today, Skenes is still the favorite, but the market drove his odds down to anywhere from -190 to -200.

That’s a hell of a drop. FanDuel Sportsbook currently has Skenes listed as only a -200 favorite. Sign up today and receive $150 in bonus bets should your initial $5 bet win. 

Why is the market racing against Skenes after two average to below-average starts? It likely has to do with the Pirates losing 10 out of their last 11 games with no hope in sight. 

Did you jump on the Skenes train early? You might want to get off before it’s too late. 

Read on for several reasons to fade Paul Skenes in the NL Rookie of the Year market while there’s still time. 

Skenes Likely Won’t Pitch in September

Paul Skenes has looked like The Terminator on the mound for much of this season with that four-seam/splinker pitch combination. But his fastball is losing velocity rapidly. 

Skenes threw 53 fastballs over the 100 mph mark in his first five starts. That dropped to 21 in the next five. In his last five, Skenes broke the 100 mph only four times. 

Last weekend in LA, Skenes also surrendered four earned runs in six innings. 

He’s likely feeling the rigors of a Major League workload, and that’s reason enough to protect his golden arm. The Pirates have also lost 10 of 11 games and are now 6.5 games back of a Wild Card spot.

The Pirates have nothing to gain by pitching Skenes in September, and the betting market is well aware.

Skenes not pitching for a month gives other NL rookies a chance to impress awards voters. 

Jackson Merrill is Also a Phenom

The San Diego Padres CF is hitting .291 with 17 HR in his rookie year. He’s also posting a 3.0 WAR and .817 OPS. 

Those numbers are good enough for NL Rookie of the Year consideration, but Merrill also has a flair for the dramatic. He’s hit five tying or go-ahead home runs this season, matching Ed Ott for players 21 or younger. Oh yeah, the only player ahead of him is Frank Robinson. 

The kid also gets it done with his glove. Merrill routinely makes sparkling catches in CF, increasing his visibility in the NL Rookie of the Year market. 

The Padres are Surging

Don’t look now, but the Padres are only 3.5 games back of the LA Dodgers for the NL West pennant. 

They’re 9-1 in their previous ten games, and their rotation got a tremendous boost with the return of starting pitcher Joe Musgrove. 

If Merrill’s bat stays hot and the Padres win the NL West title, Merrill will be the favorite to win the award heading into the playoffs. 

BetMGM Sportsbook has the San Diego Padres odds of winning the NL West at +600. Sign up with BetMGM Sportsbook and receive a risk-free initial bet worth up to $1,500. 

Play Jackson Merrill Now for NL Rookie of the Year

Jackson Merrill is plus money at every sportsbook, and DraftKings Sportsbook has the best number of +165. Bet that number before it’s gone. 

Unlike Skenes, Merrill plays every day on a playoff team. And every day is a chance to win over the voters before the season ends. If the Pirates shut Skenes down next month, Merrill won’t be plus money for long. 

Bet Jackson Merrill for NL Rookie of the Year +165 on DraftKings Sportsbook, and do it now. 

DraftKings Sportsbook also offers new players an instant bonus. Create an account and receive $150 in bonus bets after making your first $5 wager.