Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) reacts after getting an out during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) reacts after getting an out during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Cy Young

  1. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros – I don’t care about wins, which should knock Keuchel down a peg when compared to traditional voters, but Houston’s left-handed ace has been that good. His 2.36 ranks second among AL pitchers and despite relatively pedestrian strikeout numbers (7.92 per 9), he has managed to sustain consistency throughout the season. This is a razor-thin margin as it has been all year, but Keuchel gets the nod today.
  2. Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics – Gray’s ERA actually dipped to a league-leading 2.04 overnight, but he was knocked around a bit (4 runs, 1 earned) on Monday. That shouldn’t discourage anyone who backs Gray since, you know, he has been fantastic, but it brings a small asterisk for me. Gray actually trails Keuchel in both strikeout rate and walk rate, and given that Keuchel’s aren’t fantastic to begin with, that’s enough for this cushion.
  3. Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – Yes, Kluber has an ERA of 3.34. That usually eliminates a Cy Young candidate, but he has been ridiculous in every other aspect. Kluber leads MLB in innings (180.2) by a comfortable margin, and with strikeout numbers (9.61) that lap the two leaders, his candidacy is interesting. His FIP (2.58) is closer to what his ERA should be, and while some don’t like WAR as a statistic, Kluber leads AL pitchers with a 5.3 mark on FanGraphs. This is divisive, but Kluber deserves to be involved.

Next: NL MVP

Home/Chicago Cubs