Sanchez is putting together a scoreless streak that's rewriting the National League Cy Young conversation — and it's already affecting the MVP odds for Shohei Ohtani. The 2026 season has seen the pitcher throw a historic run of shutout innings, drawing attention away from the two-way star and tightening the race for the league's top honors.
The record-setting scoreless run
No one in the NL has been as dominant on the mound as Sanchez this year. His current streak of scoreless innings is the longest in the league this season, and it's pushed him to the forefront of the Cy Young race. Every start adds another chapter to a stretch that has left hitters guessing and opposing managers scrambling.
The streak has been so commanding that it's overshadowing even Ohtani, who has been putting up his usual mix of power at the plate and effectiveness on the mound. But in the Cy Young discussion, Sanchez's numbers are now the benchmark.
Ohtani's MVP odds take a hit
Ohtani's odds to win the MVP award have dropped to 81% YES, according to the latest betting markets. That's a sign that Sanchez's run is not just a Cy Young story — it's starting to reshape the broader MVP conversation. While Ohtani remains a strong favorite, the gap is narrowing as Sanchez's scoreless streak continues to grow.
The shift in odds reflects a reality that voters are paying attention to the historic nature of the streak. If Sanchez keeps this up, he could become a legitimate MVP candidate as well, though the Cy Young remains his clearest path to hardware.
The NL Cy Young award is far from decided. Sanchez's streak is the headline now, but Ohtani has the track record and the two-way production to make a late push. The next few weeks will be critical as both pitchers take the mound and the season winds down.
Sanchez's next start is already generating buzz. If he extends the streak, he'll only strengthen his case. Ohtani, meanwhile, will need to respond with his own dominant outings to keep his MVP odds from slipping further. The race is now a two-man show — and the storyline is changing fast.
