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MLB Awards Watch: Bryce Harper is the NL MVP… right?

By Brad Rowland

Washington Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Cy Young

  1. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros – If Keuchel finishes the season with a 2.24 ERA (his current number), he will win the Cy Young. Houston is arguably the best story in the American League this season, and Keuchel has been the backbone of the pitching staff, leading the AL in wins (16) while throwing more than 190 innings with a month to play. His strikeout numbers remain underwhelming, but Keuchel continues to get it done every fifth day.
  2. David Price, Toronto Blue Jays – The AL Cy Young race is wide open should Keuchel fall off the table, however, and I like Price at number two right now. He boasts a strong combination of ERA (2.47), team success and strikeout upside (8.94 K/9), and Price has been impressive during both stops this season. He is often overlooked when it comes to the best pitchers in the game, but the left-hander always ranks at or near the top with jarring consistency.
  3. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox – After a hiccup in late July/early August, Sale is back to dominating the opposition. Skeptics would point to a 3.20 ERA as a detraction, but Sale is so good everywhere else that it almost doesn’t matter. He leads the league in strikeout rate (12.04 K/9) while walking less than two batters per nine innings, and Sale actually leads the AL in FIP (2.38) and fWAR (5.8). That won’t win him the award without a lights-out closing month, but he should be in the discussion.

Next: NL MVP

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