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MLB awards watch: Cy Young races

By John Buhler

May 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 16, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) throws during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) throws during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

2017 Cy Young Award winners

American League

1

Dallas Keuchel

LHP, Houston Astros

There is no team better in baseball than the AL West juggernaut that is the Houston Astros. They have 36-16 record atop the AL West. Not only do they have an AL MVP candidate in second baseman Jose Altuve, but ace Dallas Keuchel looks to be poised to win his second AL Cy Young in three years.

Keuchel is 8-0 on the year with 2.5 WAR. He has a 1.81 ERA, a 0.876 ERA and 62 punch outs. While Minnesota’s Santana has had slightly better numbers, Keuchel is the best pitcher on the best team in baseball. All things equal, this is his Cy Young Award to lose for the Astros.

National League

1

Mike Leake

RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

Wait, it’s not Kershaw? No, we need to take a moment and appreciate what right-hander Mike Leake has done for a so-so St. Louis Cardinals team this season. St. Louis looks to be in the thick of things in the NL Central at 24-24, but Leake has been the best pitcher in the Senior Circuit though two months.

Next: Best Starting Pitchers in MLB History

He has a 5-3 record and a 3.0 WAR. Leake boasts a 2.24 ERA, a 0.937 WHIP and 48 strikeouts. Kershaw will likely overtake him atop the NL Cy Young leaderboard at some point. However, it seems that Leake has done just a tad more with less around him than Kershaw. Without Leake, are the Cardinals even at .500?

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