How could you not include a reigning National League Cy Young Award winner on a list such as this? Jake Arrieta was a major reason why the Chicago Cubs climbed out of the league’s cellar and marched all the way to the NLCS in 2015.
For his entire career before joining the Cubs in 2013, Arrieta was struggling to really find his niche in the majors. He was posting ERAs over 4.50 on a consistent basis, even finishing with a 6.20 ERA during 2012 with 18 starts. He had a 7.23 mark through five starts in 2013 before getting moved to the Cubs. Then, everything changed.
Who could have guessed that his best season as a pro pitcher would have been at the age of 29? Arrieta finished the 2013 season strong, though, with a 3.66 ERA in a Cubs uniform in just nine starts. The next season, he lowered that even more to a 2.53 ERA and a 10-5 record.
Obviously, 2015 was his Cy Young season and it was a memorable one for all Cubs fans. Arrieta threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers in late-August and that’s when everyone realized the Cy Young Award was probably his to lose.
Arrieta finished the 2015 season with some incredible numbers. He was 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and 236 strikeouts. If he can even come close to replicating that, he might just win his second straight Cy Young.
Next: 3. Dallas Keuchel, Astros