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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 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, Dallas Keuchel struggled last season. Keuchel was 9-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 168 innings across 26 starts, and his numbers suffered across the board. Given Keuchel’s step back, there was been concern that the starting rotation would be the biggest weakness in Houston’s ability to win the AL West. So far, that hasn’t been an issue at all for the first place Astros.

Through four starts in 2017, Keuchel has been outstanding. The lefty is 4-0 with a 1.22 ERA and 27 strikeouts in a major league-leading 37 innings. He has allowed just 22 hits and nine walks this season, which is good for a 0.838 WHIP. Keuchel has surrendered four home runs so far, but opponents have scored just five runs total, so his ability to keep runners off base has severely limited the damage.

Unlike Paxton, who was unhittable for three starts before allowing five runs in 4.1 innings in his fourth, Keuchel has been incredibly consistent this season. Keuchel has pitched at least seven innings in each start and has yet to allow more than two runs in any of them. Also, his strikeout numbers are on the rise. After striking out just eight hitters combined between his first two starts, the 29-year-old fanned seven hitters his next two games.

He struck out five in a complete game performance Tuesday night against the Cleveland Indians. The Astros won 4-2 to improve to an American League best 14-6, and pushed their division lead to three games over second place Oakland.

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