Chris Sale, Garrett Crochet are front-runners for comeback award

This article was contributed by BetMGM. For more sports betting insights, check out BetMGM.com.

Two pitchers are in the driver’s seat to win MLB’s Comeback Player of the Year Award.

According to the latest odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook, Atlanta Braves veteran lefty Chris Sale is the sports betting favorite in the National League. At the same time, Chicago White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet is favored in the American League.

But even though they are both minus-odds favorites in late July, they don’t have the same chance of taking home the hardware.

Sale is -600 to win Comeback Player of the Year in NL, which means his implied probability is 85.71%. Luis Severino is currently +500, while Hunter Greene is +2500. No other player is better than +6000 in this market.

Crochet, on the other hand, has more competition in the AL. He is -120 to claim the award, suitable for an implied probability of 54.55%.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty (+230), Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe (+1500), Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (+1400), Chicago White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde (+1500) and Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill (+1500) are all solid challengers in this market.

Part of the reason why Crochet’s favorite status is a bit more vulnerable is because he’s a popular target ahead of this year’s Trade Deadline. A move to the NL would remove him from this race.

In his first season as a starter, Crochet has posted a 3.07 ERA in 21 starts. He has struck out 157 batters in 111 1/3 innings of work. Crochet could become the third consecutive AL pitcher to win this award, following Liam Hendriks in 2023 and Justin Verlander in 2022.

In addition to being the favorite for this award, Sale is a +120 favorite to claim his first NL Cy Young. He is 13-3 with a 2.68 ERA in 19 starts, posting 149 strikeouts and 25 walks across 117 1/3 frames.

Sale could become the first NL pitcher to win Comeback Player of the Year since Daniel Bard accomplished the feat in 2020.

Visit the BetMGM sportsbook throughout the season for updated MLB futures, including World Series odds. You can also view updated sportsbook promos, including a First Bet Offer for eligible new customers.