MLB Awards Watch: The final ballot

90. The AL Cy Young race was arguably more interesting (we’ll get to that), but the NL offers its own challenges. The best pitcher in the sport, Clayton Kershaw, didn’t crack 150 innings due to injury, and there is the off-field story line of Jose Fernandez’s tragic passing and a movement to give him the Cy Young posthumously. However, Scherzer was the best pitcher overall in my mind, and that is backed up by a league-leading 6.2 bWAR. Scherzer also landed among the top five in the National League in fWAR (5.6) with league-leading numbers in wins (20), WHIP (0.968), innings pitched (228.1) and strikeouts (284). For the record, I absolutely do not care about wins, but the other statistics are highly impressive, and I value workload at a very high level. Kershaw was better on a per-game basis, but Scherzer’s total package is at the top of the heap.. SP. Washington Nationals. Max Scherzer. 1. player

2. player. 31. I have a feeling that Bumgarner won’t finish this high, but I love what he brings to the table. The left-hander trailed only Scherzer in innings pitched (226.2) and Bumgarner’s workload was even more impressive considering that he finished with top-five numbers in ERA (2.74) and strikeouts (251 and 10.68 per 9 innings). The advanced numbers don’t love Bumgarner in every way, with bWAR placing him only eighth among NL pitchers, but the combination of workload and effectiveness paired with the warts of other pitchers allows San Francisco’s favorite son to ascend.. SP. San Francisco Giants. Madison Bumgarner

3. This is tough. Kershaw deserves consideration here based on his ridiculous numbers, Fernandez’s actual baseball impact is close to Syndergaard (in addition to everything else) and even players like Johnny Cueto and Kyle Hendricks (who led the league in ERA) will be on Cy Young ballots. I’m taking Thor, though, as he finished in the driver’s seat for NL pitchers in fWAR (6.5) with lights-out numbers around that. Syndergaard consumed only 183.2 innings and that, for me, places him behind the top two. However, his 2.60 ERA stands up with anyone and with a 2.29 FIP and nearly 11 strikeouts per 9 innings, Syndergaard was utterly dominant when he took the ball for the Mets. We can nitpick all day, but I love what he brings.. SP. New York Mets. Noah Syndergaard. 3. player