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MLB Awards Watch: Can Kris Bryant catch Joc Pederson?

By Brad Rowland

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) signs an autograph prior to a game against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Miami won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) signs an autograph prior to a game against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Miami won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) delivers in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) delivers in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Cy Young

  1. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros – Keuchel leads the American League in both innings (130.1) and wins (11), making a picturesque candidacy for the traditional fan. Beyond that, however, he boasts an impressive 2.14 ERA across 18 starts, and big-time command (2.21 BB/9) allows him to function without high-end strikeout potential. Keuchel is a reasonable bet for regression given a .252 BABIP allowed, but a high groundball rate is encouraging, and he continues to lead what has been a strong season for the Astros.
  2. Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays – Archer is the total package. He has the blistering ERA (2.18), the strikeout rate (10.97 K/9), the command (2.18 BB/9) and even the team success (9-5 record). The talented right-hander continues to fly under the radar in some circles given Tampa Bay’s relative obscurity and his lack of name recognition, but it’s only a matter of time until the public knows Chris Archer quite well.
  3. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox – The left-hander is a strikeout machine. Sale’s strikeout rate (11.78 K/9) leaps off the page as the AL leader in the category, and he has only walked 1.76 batters per 9 innings to balance out that dominance. As a result, Sale actually leads the AL in fWAR (3.7) among starters, and if not for some bad luck in ERA (2.80), he would probably be the leader in the clubhouse right now.

Next: NL MVP

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