MLB Awards Predictions

AL Cy Young

1. David Price, Detroit Tigers – We’re on a bit of a limb here, but David Price is a talent worthy of inclusion. The left-handed is now clearly the “ace” of Detroit’s staff after the exit of Max Scherzer, and Price has flashed the ability to make a Cy Young run as the 2012 award winner as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. Detroit’s defense should be improved from the disaster that it was in 2014, undoubtedly helping Price’s chances, and a lights-out strikeout-to-walk-rate gives him a quality chance if everything comes together. By any measure, he is elite and that is an automatic qualifier.
2. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners – King Felix is seen by many as the front-runner, and it is tough to argue. Hernandez put together a ridiculous 2.14 ERA in 236 innings during the 2014 season, and he is showing no signs of slowing down after three straight Cy Young-level seasons. Still, there are a ton of miles on his odometer (2,060 innings in 10 years) and Hernandez will also be competing against the perception that his ballpark aids his production. If you could guarantee health, Hernandez is the pick, but at some point, the miles may catch him.
3. Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – I was early on the Corey Kluber bandwagon, anointing him as a superstar in August before his strong close to a Cy Young-winning season in 2014. Some view the powerful right-hander as a fluke, though, citing an up-and-down MLB career prior to his breakout season a year ago. I believe. Kluber struck out 10.27 batters per 9 innings against just 1.95 walks in that timeframe a year ago, and if he can simply reproduce those ratios, there is no argument against his maturation into an ace. A repeat Cy Young performance shouldn’t ever be expected but Kluber has earned the jump to the top tier.

Next: NL MVP