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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; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) pitches to the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning at Target Field. The Twins won 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) pitches to the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning at Target Field. The Twins won 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins

Twins starter Ervin Santana has carved out a 13-year career in the big leagues thanks more to his dependability than his ability to dominate a game. Santana has made 30 or more starts eight times during his career, and has surpassed 200 innings five times. He’s made just one All-Star team over that period, and has received Cy Young votes only once as well: both in 2008 when a 25-year-old Santana was 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA with 214 strikeouts in 219 innings.

Now 34, Santana is off to a brilliant start, and is worthy of Cy Young consideration, at least through the first month of the season. He’s 3-0 with a major league-leading 0.64 ERA in four starts, including a shutout of the White Sox April 15. Santana has surrendered just two runs and nine hits in 28 innings. He has allowed eight walks and a single home run.

Santana has been the best pitcher in the big leagues so far in terms of keeping runners off base. He leads MLB in WHIP (0.607), opponents batting average (.115) and hits per nine innings (2.9). He also has 20 strikeouts and a 21.1 percent strikeout rate, which is the best he has posted since 2014 and 2.1 percent better than his career mark. Santana currently ranks in the top 10 of all major league pitchers in WAR (0.9).

Based on raw numbers alone, Santana would be worthy for the top spot in our rankings. However, like the MVP Award, the Cy Young often places some emphasis on how good a pitcher’s team is overall. Though the Twins are off to a better start than many expected (10-10 through Tuesday), few expect Minnesota to challenge for a Wild Card spot, which will make it difficult for Santana to get votes — unless, of course, he continues to dominate the ERA race.

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