MLB Awards Watch: Dallas Keuchel leads jam-packed race for AL Cy Young

With teams having fewer than 50 games remaining in the 2015 season, it is “gut check” time in the MLB world. There is still plenty of time for teams in the playoff hunt to make a big move on the back of a sustained hot streak, but in the same breath, a cold spell can signal doom that cannot be recovered from in the season’s final stages. That phenomenon also applies to individuals, and that is the focus today.

In this space each week, our task is to take a glance at how MLB’s individual award races are shaking out, and we will do just that. Last week’s choices can be found here, and given that only seven days have passed, there will always be similarities between the two rankings. There is, however, some shuffling to go through, and that is also to be expected given the everyday nature of baseball itself.

Let’s get things started with a look at the Rookie of the Year race, followed by an examination of the Cy Young and MVP pursuits in both leagues.

Next: NL Rookie of the Year