MLB Awards Watch: How real is Dallas Keuchel?

AL Cy Young

1. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros – Keuchel leads the American League in innings pitched (72.2) and the left-hander has been lights-out in his ten starts. He has a sparkling 1.98 ERA to go along with a 6-1 record, and it certainly helps his case that the Astros are leading the way in the AL West. Still, Keuchel continues to pitch with extreme effectiveness without the benefit of an elite strikeout rate, and that speaks volumes to his pinpoint command and overall craftiness.
2. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners – Another year, another stellar performance from King Felix. Hernandez has a 2.19 ERA in nine starts, and he has struck out more than a batter per inning during that timeframe. On one hand, his strand rate is comically high (89.8%), making it seem like regression is coming, but Hernandez actually “leads” the AL in home run/fly ball rate at a stunning 19.8%, and if that ratio comes down as the strand rate does, what you are left with is an ace-level performance.
3. Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics – All Sonny Gray has done is lead the American League in ERA at 1.77. Sounds like a pretty good Cy Young case, right? Gray’s showing has been no fluke, either, as the youngster has a 2.60 FIP to go along with quality strikeout-to-walk numbers, and the A’s have a legitimate young ace to build around despite the team’s rocky start.

Next: NL MVP