MLB Awards Watch: Chris Sale, Max Scherzer lead Cy Young races

2. Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have the most improved pitching staff in baseball this season, and the bounce back performance Zack Greinke has given is a big reason why. Greinke struggled with a 4.37 ERA last season, and posted his worst H/9 (9.1), and HR/9 (1.3) since 2006, and his lowest K/9 (7.6) since 2010. After finishing as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young in 2015, when he led the majors with a 1,66 ERA, 222 ERA+ and 0.844 WHIP, it was a sudden drop.

In 21 starts this year, Greinke is 13-4 with a 2.84 ERA. Only Kershaw has more wins, and Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez are the only three pitchers in the majors with a better ERA among qualified starters. Greinke has a solid 3.18 FIP and 165 ERA+, and has improved his H/9 (7.3), HR/9 (1.1) and K/9 (9.8). In fact his strikeouts per nine innings are at their highest level since 2011, and the second best of his 14-year career to date.

Greinke has struck out 149 hitters in 136.1 innings, and has issued 110 hits and 27 walks, giving him a solid 1.00 WHIP, which ranks fifth. Opponents are hitting .219 against him. Greinke ranks eighth among all pitchers and fourth in the National League with 3.6 fWAR.

As for his non-traditional stats, Greinke has posted a 3.18 FIP, 3.22 xFIP, 63 ERA-, 73 FIP-, 75 xFIP- and 3.31 SIERA – showing improvement across the board over his first season in Arizona. He’s not to 2015 levels, and is a distant No. 2 in our rankings, but Greinke has been terrific in 2017.