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MLB Awards Watch: Nolan Arenado is a superstar

By Brad Rowland

May 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) makes a throw to first during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) makes a throw to first during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports /

NL Cy Young

Clayton Kersaw. 1. player. 71. <p>Let’s just say that this wasn’t a difficult decision. Kershaw has <em>easily</em> been the best pitcher in baseball this season, and that extends to being the best pitcher on the planet over multiple seasons. In 2016, the left-hander boasts a 1.52 ERA with a 1.57 FIP, and if that wasn’t fantastic enough, Kershaw has 122 strikeouts and six (yes, six) walks. Those numbers appear to be made-up, but I assure you that they are very real. He’s just that obscene.</p>. SP. Los Angeles Dodgers

31. <p>Cueto isn’t a pitcher that I believe in, to the point where I am famously low on the veteran right-hander. At the same time, though, I am sucker for pitchers who eat innings, and Cueto trails only Kershaw among NL starters with 95.2 innings in only 13 starts. It isn’t all about usage with Cueto, as he does hold a 2.16 ERA with top-five marks in fWAR and bWAR, but he wins the tiebreaker given how much extra value comes with all of those innings.</p>. SP. San Francisco Giants. Johnny Cueto. 2. player

Chicago Cubs. Jake Arrieta. 3. player. 9. <p>Both Noah Syndergaard and Jose Fernandez have legitimate arguments to land among the top three, but Arrieta has pitched more innings and he trails only Kershaw with a 1.86 ERA on the season. It is fair to say that Arrieta hasn’t been <em>quite</em> as ridiculous as he was during the second half of the 2015 MLB season, but the Cubs are the best team in baseball and he is the best pitcher on the staff. That alone will bring him extra attention and Arrieta continues to live up to the hype on a start-by-start basis.</p>. SP

Next: AL Cy Young

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