NEW YORK — As the 2026 MLB season approaches the one-quarter mark, the races for the American League and National League Cy Young Awards are already taking shape, with a pair of standout aces emerging as clear frontrunners while several other pitchers position themselves for late surges.

New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler and Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes lead most early betting odds and expert polls, but a deep group of contenders keeps both races highly competitive. Here are the top five Cy Young candidates as of mid-May 2026, based on current performance, advanced metrics and expert consensus.

1. Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees (AL Favorite)

Schlittler has burst onto the scene as the early AL leader, boasting a sparkling 1.35 ERA through nine starts with a 5-1 record and 59 strikeouts. The 24-year-old right-hander has been nothing short of dominant for the Yankees, posting elite command and missing bats at an impressive rate. His combination of velocity, sharp breaking stuff and composure under pressure has many analysts calling him the clear favorite at +230 odds.

Yankees fans and opponents alike have taken notice of his ability to limit hard contact and work deep into games. If Schlittler maintains this level, he could become the first Yankees pitcher to win the Cy Young since CC Sabathia in 2007.

2. Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates (NL Favorite)

The defending NL Cy Young winner remains the man to beat in the senior circuit. Skenes has picked up right where he left off, delivering electric stuff and elite results that have him at +200 odds. The 23-year-old’s unique pitch mix — highlighted by a triple-digit fastball and devastating slider — continues to overwhelm hitters, making him one of the most exciting young arms in baseball.

While a few challengers have closed the gap slightly, Skenes’ consistency and dominance keep him atop most NL Cy Young projections. A repeat victory would mark a historic achievement for the Pirates franchise.

3. Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays

Cease has reinvented himself in Toronto, posting strong numbers that place him firmly in the AL Cy Young conversation at +240 odds. His strikeout ability and improved command have made him a consistent force, giving the Blue Jays a true ace at the top of their rotation. Cease’s experience in big moments adds credibility to his candidacy as the season progresses.

4. Max Fried, New York Yankees

Fried’s move to the Yankees has paid immediate dividends. The veteran left-hander sits near the top of the AL leaderboard with a sub-3.00 ERA and excellent peripherals. His polished approach, pinpoint control and ability to induce weak contact make him a steady presence in a stacked Yankees rotation. Fried is currently listed around +300 to +330 in early odds.

5. Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels

Soriano has been one of the biggest surprises of the young season, emerging as a legitimate Cy Young contender with a sub-2.00 ERA in limited starts. The Angels right-hander’s stuff has always been electric, but improved health and command have taken his game to another level. At longer odds around +1000 to +1200, Soriano represents the classic boom candidate who could make a serious run if he stays healthy.

Other Names to Watch

Several other pitchers remain firmly in the mix. In the AL, Jacob deGrom continues defying age with electric stuff when healthy, while Hunter Brown and Garrett Crochet provide strong upside. In the NL, Cristopher Sanchez, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Chris Sale are all capable of climbing the leaderboard with hot streaks.

Shohei Ohtani’s two-way excellence also draws attention, though his pitching workload remains carefully managed. Early Cy Young polls show familiar names at the top, but the season is long and injuries or hot streaks can quickly reshape the race.

What Separates the Contenders

Modern Cy Young voting increasingly values advanced metrics like FIP, xERA, strikeout rates and innings pitched alongside traditional wins and ERA. Durability has become crucial in an era of pitcher management and workload limits. The top candidates this season excel at limiting hard contact while missing bats at high rates — skills that translate well in today’s analytics-driven game.

Voters also consider team context. Pitchers carrying weaker rosters often receive extra credit, while those on loaded contenders must post truly exceptional numbers to stand out. This dynamic makes the current races particularly intriguing as mid-May frontrunners look to separate themselves before the All-Star break.

Outlook for the Rest of 2026

While Schlittler and Skenes currently lead the way, the Cy Young races are far from decided. A strong two-month stretch by any of the top contenders — or an injury to a frontrunner — could dramatically shift the odds. History shows that consistency over a full season ultimately decides these awards more than early dominance.

For baseball fans, the 2026 Cy Young races offer compelling storylines: youth versus experience, power pitchers versus command artists, and breakout candidates versus established stars. As the season unfolds, every start from these aces will be scrutinized as they chase one of the game’s highest individual honors.

The beauty of the Cy Young race lies in its unpredictability. While Schlittler and Skenes currently hold the edge, the summer months will test their endurance and separate the true elites from the rest of a very talented field. By October, one pitcher in each league will stand alone as the game’s best — but getting there will require excellence night after night in a long and demanding season.

Companies making announcements this week include Tilly Bailey & Irvine LLP, hedgehog lab, Sage, Swinburne Maddison, CMP Products and Azets

Growing North East law firm Tilly Bailey & Irvine LLP has announced a series of promotions. The firm, which has offices in Hartlepool, Sunderland, Stockton, Barnard Castle and Wynyard, has promoted three solicitors – Laura Nomaz, Jessica Inman, and Georgia Wilkinson – shortly after returning from maternity leave to senior associate roles.

Joining them in that position are Rhiannon Melrose and Tyler Plunkett, while Bethany Atkinson, Mollie Hall, Olivia Linton and Sophie Wilding have been promoted to associate-level roles.

Heather Bolton, partner and head of the Sunderland branch, said: “These promotions reflect the dedication and hard work shown by our colleagues across the firm. We are committed to supporting career development, promoting staff each year, and consistently recognising talent from within as we continue to grow.”

Law firm Swinburne Maddison LLP has announced that managing partner Jonathan Moreland will retire at the end of this year. He will be succeeded by Victoria Walton, the firm’s current partner and head of commercial property, who is set to take up the position in January 2027.

Mr Moreland’s journey with the firm began in 1991 when he joined Swinburne Jackson and Moreland, where his late father was senior partner. Since his appointment as managing partner in 2021, he has led the firm through a period of unprecedented growth and success

He said: “It has been an enormous privilege and honour to lead Swinburne Maddison. The role has been about far more than leadership alone – it has meant being part of a firm where people genuinely belong, care about one another and remain deeply committed to supporting our clients.”

Ms Walton brings a wealth of experience, having joined as a trainee in 1999 and becoming a partner just seven years later. She has served on the firm’s management committee for six years, working closely with Mr Moreland to shape the firm’s strategy.

North East accounting tech group Sage has made two new senior appointments. Krish Vitaldevara joins as chief product officer and Anand Swaminathan as chief strategy officer. The two will join Sage’s executive leadership team on May 18 and June 15 respectively, and will be based in the company’s San Jose, California office.

As chief product officer, Mr Vitaldevara will be responsible for Sage’s global product and platform strategy, innovation roadmap and delivery, while Mr Swaminathan will lead Sage’s corporate strategy, growth priorities and long-term value creation agenda.

Steve Hare, CEO, Sage said: “Krish and Anand are proven leaders with deep experience building and scaling world-class products and businesses. Their appointments reflect our continued investment in innovation and growth, and I’m excited about the impact they’ll have for our customers, colleagues and partners.”

Azets has grown its audit and tax services for companies and individuals in the North East with four new hires. Yasmin Bambrough joins as audit senior at the accountancy and business advisory firm, with Rebecca Hutton as audit associate. Ms Bambrough, who was previously with PwC, and Ms Hutton, from Clive Owen, work out of Azets’ Teesside office.

With the tax service team, Stuart Stephenson, whose experience includes more than nine years at KPMG, joins as corporate tax director and Jonathan Kennedy arrives from S&W as R&D associate director. Azets employs more than 300 people, with 16 partners, in the North East, providing tailored accountancy, tax and advisory services to help businesses and individuals.

Brian Laidlaw, partner and head of North East at Azets, said: “Yasmin, Rebecca, Stuart and Jonathan join us at an exciting time for the business as we continue to grow clients amid increasing compliance demands for SMEs and individuals here in the North East. Azets provides independent insights that bolster compliance, governance and long-term growth.”

Newcastle-headquartered global product design consultancy hedgehog lab has announced a series of promotions among its senior team. Joe Thompson, hedgehog lab’s chief technology officer, has joined the company’s board. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the tech sector, and has been with hedgehog lab for the last two, having previously held senior roles at Xoomworks – part of global consultancy Accenture.

Ryan Scaife, previously hedgehog lab’s chief financial officer, has taken on an expanded role as the business’s new chief financial and operating officer. And Aimé Watson Bachini has also been promoted to director of people, as hedgehog lab steps up its plans to grow its headcount in the months ahead.

CEO Malcolm Seagrave said: “Our direction as a business has never been clearer. Last year’s execution of our strategy delivered strong results, and we’ve brought that same energy into the new year. These promotions recognise the leaders who are helping us scale what we do best – creating products that change businesses and transform lives. We are excited for the next phase of our journey with the exceptional team we have in place.”

Cramlington cable glands, cleats and accessories manufacturer CMP Products has announced a strategic restructure of its UK and Europe sales team.

Laurie Wilson has been promoted to regional manager (UK, Ireland & Europe and Central Asia), recognising more than a decade of contribution to the business. Jean‑Baptiste Praud has been promoted to regional sales manager (Europe), while Gary Groves joins CMP as regional sales manager (UK and Ireland) from Riello UPS.

Vince Patterson, CEO at CMP, said: “As we continue driving our market‑leading position through sustainable investment in our people and a deeper understanding of our customers, it is essential that our sales structure reflects that ambition.

“This new model strengthens collaboration, enhances accountability and ensures we are well positioned to support customers with the safety, reliability and efficiency they expect from CMP.”