Jacob Misiorowski and Cam Schlittler Headline Wednesday's Cy Young Announcement: The 2027 Fantasy Draft Read on All Six Finalists

The 2026 Cy Young Awards will be announced Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET on MLB Network, and both races enter the night with clear favorites. In the National League, Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski led the majors in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts and was priced as an overwhelming betting favorite. In the American League, the Yankees' Cam Schlittler led the league with a 1.95 ERA and is widely viewed as the frontrunner.

The awards themselves are history by the time 2027 drafts begin. What matters for fantasy managers is what these seasons tell us about next year. Here is where all six finalists belong on the 2027 board.

The finalists at a glance

These are the season lines for each of the six finalists, as reported by MLB.com and other outlets this week.

National League

Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers: This was a season for the history books. A 1.80 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP and 252 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings across 30 starts. He led the majors in all three of those categories. Betting markets priced him as close to a lock as an award race can get.

For 2027 fantasy, Misiorowski is the clear SP1 candidate in most drafts. His stuff is elite, his strikeout rate is among the highest in the game, and the Brewers have built their rotation around him. The only real question is workload. He reached 174 2/3 innings this year, and a modest step up next season would still keep him below the heaviest-used aces. Expect him to be the first pitcher off the board in many 2027 drafts, and do not overthink it.

Chris Sale, Braves: Sale posted a 2.16 ERA with 200 strikeouts and only 31 walks in 162 2/3 innings over 27 starts. He remains one of the most efficient strikeout pitchers in baseball. The concern for 2027 is age and durability: Sale will be pitching his age-38 season next year, and he did not reach 30 starts this season. He belongs in the second tier of starting pitchers, with a small discount for injury risk.

Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies: Sanchez was a finalist for the second straight year and led the majors with 8.1 pitcher WAR, thanks largely to 207 innings, the most of any finalist. His 2.91 ERA and 231 strikeouts make him a clear fantasy ace in 2027. In fantasy, innings are an underrated asset, and Sanchez provides more of them than nearly anyone. He tends to come off the board after the flashier names, which makes him a strong value pick.

American League

Cam Schlittler, Yankees: Schlittler made 33 starts, posted a 1.95 ERA, struck out 239 and won 14 games. His breakout makes him one of the most interesting fantasy debates of the winter. The skeptic's case: his 6.2 fWAR was not the highest in the league, which suggests his ERA outran some of his underlying numbers. The optimist's case: he made 33 starts, struck out batters at an elite rate and did it while pitching half his games in a hitter-friendly home park.

The read here: Schlittler belongs in the second wave of aces in 2027 drafts, just behind the elite tier. Expect some ERA regression, which would still leave him excellent. The strikeouts and the volume are real.

Dylan Cease, Blue Jays: Cease went 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and 239 strikeouts in 169 innings over 29 starts. He has always been a strikeout machine; the difference this year was run prevention. For fantasy, Cease is an ace-tier strikeout source. His history of walks means his WHIP can swing, but the strikeouts alone make him a strong pick.

Parker Messick, Guardians: Messick was the surprise finalist. He went 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and 193 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings across 32 starts. A WHIP that low over 32 starts points to real command, and he was one of the best values in fantasy this season. For 2027, he is a pitcher who will likely be drafted later than his performance deserves because he lacks a big name. That is exactly the kind of player to target.

The labor cloud over 2027

There is one big caveat for every 2027 draft ranking: the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players' association expires Dec. 1. A lockout would freeze transactions and could delay the start of spring training. For fantasy, that means draft dates may move, roster news may come late and some teams may enter the season with unsettled rotations. Draft pitchers with established roles, like these six, with slightly more confidence than usual for that reason.

How to use this in 2027 drafts

1. Misiorowski is the safest elite starter on the board and a first-round pick. 2. Schlittler, Cease and Sanchez form the next tier, with Sanchez offering the most innings. 3. Sale is a high-end arm with a small age discount. 4. Messick is the value target: a frontline performer who could be drafted much later.

What's next

The Cy Young announcement is Wednesday night, followed by the MVP awards. After that, the hot stove takes over, and the labor deadline looms. For the Verdexed view on 2027 win totals and early season predictions, check the MLB predictions page as the offseason unfolds.