Is the Cubs' Justin Steele now the NL Cy Young favorite?

The National League Cy Young race is wide open.

The top four betting favorites as of Sept. 6 according to PointsBet are: Blake Snell (-200), Justin Steele (+200), Spencer Strider (+500) and Zac Gallen (+3000)

Snell has only pitched seven innings twice this season and leads the league with 89 walks and 12 wild pitches. 

Strider is tied for the league lead in wins, strikeouts, FIP, and WHIP, but his 3.56 ERA would be the second highest of a Cy Young winner, the only one higher being LaMarr Hoyt, who won in 1983 with a 3.66 ERA. 

Gallen, who was picked to start the All-Star game for the National League, looked like the favorite earlier in the season, but has struggled recently. In his last two starts (both losses), he has given up 11 runs and has not displayed his signature pinpoint pitch placement.

For Steele, the only blemish on his resume is a brief, 15-day stint on the injured list in June due to a mild forearm strain. 

Despite trailing Snell for the league lead in ERA, Steele has the best adjusted ERA+, which accounts for Snell playing at the notoriously pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Steele also has the fewest HR/9, is tied with Strider for the league lead in wins, and is top five in FIP.

Additionally, Steele only has pitched three fewer innings than Snell despite missing three starts in June.

In Steele's last start, he put together his most complete performance of the season. He gave up just two hits while striking out 12 over eight innings. 

Steele has been the unquestioned ace of the Chicago Cubs as they hope to return to the playoffs. The Cubs currently hold the second NL wild-card spot, and are just 1.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central. 

If Steele is able to build off of his last start and continue leading the Cubs to the postseason, it will be difficult for voters to ignore how valuable Steele is to his team. 

Because of Snell's lack of team success and inability to consistently pitch deep into games, Steele can lock up the NL Cy Young with a few more quality starts and a Cubs postseason berth.