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MLB Awards Watch: Felix Hernandez leads stacked AL Cy Young race

By Brad Rowland

Apr 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Cy Young

  1. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners – The AL Cy Young race is a logjam right, and when all else fails, go with King Felix. Hernandez has a spotless 1.85 ERA to go along with 9.25 K/9 and 1.48 BB/9 and the big right-hander is showing no signs of slowing down. If you took a poll as to who the best pitcher in the AL was, Hernandez would likely win, and he has displayed the rationale behind that this season.
  2. Michael Pineda, New York Yankees – Pineda’s ERA (2.72) is good, but not great. However, his peripherals are just silly. The powerful right-hander has struck out 10.49 batters per 9 innings while issuing only 0.58 free passes (!) during that time period. That is enough to launch Pineda into the fWAR (1.9) lead among all MLB pitchers, and the Yankees are simply praying that he can remain healthy over the balance of the season.
  3. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros – Keuchel continues to lead the Majors in ERA (1.39) and that matters. His strikeout rate is a bit worrisome at only 6.45 per 9 innings, but Keuchel has put together a long enough track record where no one expects the worse. That ERA will rise, but anything below 3.00 is firmly possible.

Next: NL MVP

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