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

By Brad Rowland

Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) heads for home after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) heads for home after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

NL Rookie of the Year

  1. Kris Bryant, 3B Chicago Cubs – To me, Bryant is still the clear choice. Many have moved away from Bryant for reasons passing understanding, but Chicago’s golden boy remains the NL leader in fWAR (4.0) and OBP (.361) among rookies, and with 16 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 107 games, his profile speaks for itself. The defense certainly doesn’t hurt, either, and Bryant is going to have to falter to lose the hardware.
  2. Matt Duffy, 3B San Francisco Giants – Duffy easily leads all NL rookies in batting average (.306) but a 4.1% walk rate caps his on-base percentage at a relatively pedestrian .341 for the year. That isn’t to disparage Duffy, but rather to temper the party being thrown for his batting average. The power (.468 slugging percentage) has been unexpected and the defense is good, but Duffy is going to need to keep up this lofty average and have a slip from Bryant to attract enough votes.
  3. Randal Grichuk, OF St. Louis Cardinals – I’m taking Grichuk for another week, but it is a photo finish that includes Pittsburgh’s Jung-Ho Kang and Dodgers OF Joc Pederson. Grichuk’s .376 BABIP for the season seems wildly unsustainable, and with five times as many strikeouts as walks, things could get ugly in a hurry. Still, Grichuk leads NL rookies in wRC+ (144) and slugging (.576) and that is impressive.

Next: AL Rookie of the Year

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