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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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Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Cy Young

  1. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros – Last week’s leader didn’t exactly do anything to lose that status. In fact, Keuchel fortified it with a complete game shutout in his only start, allowing only four hits while striking out 11 batters. For the season, Keuchel’s statistics speak for themselves, with an AL-leading 1.76 ERA and 81.2 innings, and the left-hander is beginning to assuage any doubt about a “fluke” campaign.
  2. Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics – Gray doesn’t lead the American League in ERA, innings or strikeouts, but the youngster has the total package. The right-hander sits in a three-way tie for third place in fWAR (2.0), and after 11 starts and 74 innings, Gray’s performance has been fantastic to the tune of a 1.82 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 4 to 1. This is a frighteningly close race at the moment, but even with Keuchel edging him out, there is nothing wrong with Gray.
  3. Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays – Aside from some minor concern about his ability to pitch deep into games, there is nothing worry about with Chris Archer. The talented right-hander has a 2.12 ERA (2.42 FIP, 2.57 xFIP) across 11 starts, and that places him as the third member of a three-way tie with Keuchel and Gray at 2.0 fWAR on the season. Archer doesn’t lead the AL in any single category, but his across-the-board excellence is tough to ignore at this point in the calendar.

Next: NL MVP

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