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MLB Awards Watch: Zack Greinke chases Max Scherzer for NL Cy Young

By Brad Rowland

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke (21) pitches during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke (21) pitches during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

NL Cy Young

  1. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals – This one is controversial. Zack Greinke is out of his mind right now (we’ll get there), but over the body of the season, I’ll take Scherzer despite the difference in ERA. Scherzer’s 2.09 ERA is nothing to scoff at, and his strikeout (10.30 K/9) to walk (0.98 BB/9) ratio is the stuff of legend. Throw in a significant lead in FIP (2.13 to 2.52) and fWAR (5.1 to 3.7) and I’ll take the safety of Scherzer over the blazing streak from Greinke.
  2. Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers – Greinke leads all MLB starters in ERA (1.30!) on the heels of a scoreless streak that has reached 43.2 innings. That is, of course, preposterous by nature, and Greinke has been out of his mind in recent days. Every peripheral points to some luck involved in his current performance, but Greinke is still a dominant pitcher who happens to be throwing some of the best baseball of his career right now.
  3. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kershaw is suddenly the “other” guy in Los Angeles despite the fact that he leads Greinke in fWAR. The left-hander leads the NL in strikeout rate (11.95 K/9) with dominant control (1.98 BB/9) and his luck seems to be stabilizing. It wouldn’t be insane if Kershaw finished ahead of Greinke in ERA, and given that they are differentiated by more than a full run right now, that is saying something.

Next: AL Cy Young

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