As the dust settles after the Pittsburgh Pirates' rocky Opening Day, all eyes are on Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a prime contender for his first Cy Young Award. The season's opening games have already stirred the pot in the National League Cy Young race, with some unexpected twists.
Pirates starter Paul Skenes, who was heavily favored to snag his second consecutive NL Cy Young, had a tough start. Despite some defensive blunders from center fielder Oneil Cruz that didn’t help his cause, Skenes left the mound with five earned runs after pitching less than an inning. It's a rough start, but the season is long, and Skenes has time to bounce back.
In contrast, Yamamoto shone brightly on Opening Day, showcasing his skills by allowing just two runs over six solid innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His performance has certainly put him in the spotlight as a serious Cy Young contender.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield notes that the race for the NL Cy Young is "wide open." Philadelphia Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez and Yamamoto are making strong cases with their impressive starts, closing in on Skenes' early lead.
But let's not forget about Shohei Ohtani, whose potential to capture his first Cy Young Award is generating buzz. Entering his first full season as a starter since 2022, Ohtani has the backing of several Dodgers teammates who believe this could be his year.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith expressed confidence in Ohtani's abilities, saying, “There’s no ceiling with him. He can go out there and win a Cy Young this year. I have no doubt about that.”
So, who’s leading the Cy Young race after the first series? According to FanGraphs’ projections, Cristopher Sanchez currently tops the list for the 2026 NL Cy Young.
However, it’s early days, and these rankings can shift rapidly. Yamamoto is holding strong in fifth place, but with Ohtani yet to make his season debut, the landscape could change quickly.
Ohtani is set to make his first start against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, aiming to join the Cy Young conversation alongside his Dodgers and Team Japan teammate. With so much talent in the mix, this season's Cy Young race promises to be one for the ages.