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MLB Awards Watch: Cy Young races

By Nicholas Ian Allen

June 6, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
June 6, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 14, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) delivers in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) delivers in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers

We’ve already discussed the uphill battles closers face when it comes to winning the Cy Young Award, but if there’s one thing that helps, it’s setting a major league record. Part of Eric Gagne’s appeal when he won the honor in 2003 was that each of his 55 saves was part of his MLB record string of 84 consecutive saves without blowing an opportunity (a mark he set the following season). He also tied the NL record for saves in a season.

Kenley Jansen isn’t likely to come close to any saves records in 2017, but he has been arguably even more dominant, and set a big league record with 36 strikeouts before striking a hitter – a number he ran all the way to 51 before he issued a free pass to Nolan Arenado June 25.

Overall, Jansen is 4-0 with a 0.83 ERA, 0.54 FIP and 52 strikeouts in 32.2 innings across 31 appearances. Jansen ranks third in ERA among MLB pitchers with at least 30 innings of work, and is second in FIP. He has 17 saves in allowed only the one walk, and just one home run as well. Jansen ranks No. 19 overall, 12th among NL pitchers and second among big league relievers with a 2.0 fWAR.

Using a nearly unhittable cutter, Jansen has struck out 14.33 hitters per nine innings, which ranks fourth overall, and he ranks fourth with a 44.1 percent strikeout. Given his incredible control, Jansen ranks second with a 43.2 percent K%-BB%.

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