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MLB Awards Watch: How real is Dallas Keuchel?

By Brad Rowland

Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) rubs the baseball between pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) rubs the baseball between pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Karns (51) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Karns (51) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Rookie of the Year

  1. Devon Travis, 2B Toronto Blue Jays – If this award was handed out for performance over the past few weeks, Travis certainly wouldn’t win it. Still, his season-long showing has been quite impressive, and even with a stint on the disabled list beginning last week, his numbers trump the rest. The power (7 HR in 36 games) was never sustainable, but depending on how long he remains on the shelf, Travis could be leading when he returns.
  2. Nate Karns, SP Tampa Bay Rays – Karns appeared in MLB games in each of the two previous seasons, but he still holds rookie classification, and the Rays right-hander has been quite good early. Karns has made nine starts while keeping his ERA down (3.71) and it appears that he has maintained strong strikeout potential with more than eight punch-outs per nine innings. ERA predictors like FIP and xFIP don’t love him to this point, but in a weak rookie crop, Karns has stood out as a solid contender.
  3. Steven Souza, OF Tampa Bay Rays – On one hand, Souza has been “struggling” to the point where Rays fans are probably getting restless. On the other, his showing has been good enough to keep playing time, and the AL Rookie of the Year race is a mess. Souza has 7 home runs and 7 stolen bases in 43 games, and if he can somehow cut down on an astronomical 38% strikeout rate, things will stabilize in his other ratios.

Next: NL Cy Young

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