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San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill celebrates with third base coach Tim Leiper (33) after his two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

San Diego's Jackson Merrill replaces Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes for NL Rookie of the Year favorite

At Major League Baseball's All-Star break, the one award race that seemed like it might be over was for National League Rookie of the Year

By NOAH TRISTER
Published - Sep 02, 2024, 03:51 PM ET
Last Updated - Sep 02, 2024, 03:51 PM EDT

At the All-Star break, the one award race that seemed like it might be over was for National League Rookie of the Year.

Not so fast.

A terrific month of August has helped San Diego's Jackson Merrill emerge as the new favorite for the honor, displacing Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes. The flip in the betting odds has been dramatic. Skenes was a -1200 favorite at the break, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Now it's Merrill who is the pick at -800.

It's not as though Skenes has done anything to lose the award. The 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick is 8-2 with a 2.23 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. The last-place Pirates aren't pushing him overly hard, but they haven't shut him down either, and it was perfectly reasonable to consider him a huge favorite for Rookie of the Year back in mid-July.

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