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MLB Awards Watch: Cy Young races

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (right) delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (right) delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 3, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets

If he can keep pitching at his current pace, Scherzer would run away with the award in any normal season. But, in 2017, he’ll have Noah Syndergaard to deal with, and the Mets ace has been unhittable through the first month this year.

Just 24 years old, Syndergaard has already established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. Last season, Syndergaard earned All-Star recognition for the first time, finished eighth in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award, and finished No. 19 in the MVP race after posting a 2.60 ERA with 218 strikeouts in 183.2 innings across 31 outings.

In 2017, Syndergaard might establish himself as the most dominant pitcher in the National League. Through his first four starts of 2017, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA in 26.0 innings.

Syndergaard has allowed 23 hits, and opponents are hitting a modest .225 against him, but Thor has limited the damage. Though he has allowed nine runs total, and only five were earned, Syndergaard still leads the major leagues with a 0.75 FIP thanks to his 29.1 percent strikeout rate, zero walks and zero home runs allowed.

Syndergaard has therefore posted a 30.0 K/BB rate, which is twice as good as the second best mark in the National League (which belongs to Ivan Nova of the Pirates, a dark horse to keep an eye on in the NL Cy Young race).

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Statheads love Syndergaard. He also leads the major leagues in FIP- (21), ranks second in the big leagues and first in the NL in xFIP (1.92), and third overall and tops in the NL in SIERA (1.97). He is also fun to watch: Syndergaard has MLB’s highest fastball velocity (98.6mph) and slider velocity (92.0 mph) among qualified starters.

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