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MLB Awards Watch: Josh Donaldson, Todd Frazier mount charge

By Brad Rowland

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

NL Cy Young

  1. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals – Scherzer has already accumulated a 3.0 fWAR, and he has done so in only 10 starts. That is, quite obviously, an absurd pace, but it seems crazily sustainable given the way he has dominated. For a snapshot, Scherzer has a 10.67 K/9 strikeout rate against just a 1.26 BB/9 walk rate on the year, and given the snappy nature of his “stuff” in the National League, a sub-2.00 ERA season feels within reach.
  2. Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers – Greinke will forever be the “other” guy in Los Angeles, but he currently sits in a tie for the NL lead in ERA (with Shelby Miller) at 1.48 over 10 starts and 67 innings. Greinke has been the beneficiary of a sky-high 90.6% strand rate, which is sure to correct itself in the near future, but at this point, we all know that Greinke is a top-flight pitcher, even if he flies under the radar at times.
  3. Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates – It was never a matter of “if” but a matter of “when” for Cole. He has now arrived. The former number one overall pick has posted a 1.90 ERA in 11 starts, and that lands him just behind Scherzer in fWAR to this point. Cole’s strikeout potential has begun to surface, with 10.01 strikeouts per 9 innings, and if he can keep his walk rate (2.03 BB/9) quite low, the ceiling is limitless given his array of offerings.

Next: AL Cy Young

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