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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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April 14, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) throws in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 14, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) throws in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

National League

5. Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

Zach Greinke’s first season in Arizona was a rocky one as he posted a 4.37 ERA, his worst since 2005 when he was 21 years old in his second major league season. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner, Greinke entered 2016 on a streak of three straight top-eight finishes in the voting, including a runner-up performance in 2015 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nevertheless, the veteran right-hander surrendered 23 home runs, and allowed more hits than innings pitched for the first time since 2005.

Entering his age 33 season, there was concern that Greinke might never regain his Cy Young form. However, through the first five starts this year, he has posted a solid 2-2 record with a 2.93 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. Though his ERA ranks 39th in baseball, he is one of only nine pitchers to reach 1.0 WAR so far, which should boost his standing in the award race this season. It should also help that he is the ace of a surprising D-Backs squad that has the look of a Wild Card challenger through the first month of the season.

The Diamondbacks are 3-2 in Greinke’s starts in April, though he only one deserved a loss. On April 14, Greinke allowed five runs on 10 hits and three walks in five innings in a 7-1 loss to the Dodgers. However, Greinke bounced back in his next start with eight innings, in which he allowed a single run on five hits and one walk in a 1-0 loss to the Padres.

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