MLB Awards Watch: Corey Kluber making move for Cy Young

2. Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Nationals could have all three of out NL Cy Young Award candidates, as Stephen Strasburg, who ranks fifth in the NL in fWAR (3.7), is a worthy candidate. However, Diamondbacks starter Zack Greinke has a slightly better case overall.

In 26 starts, Greinke is 15-6 with a 3.14 ERA. His 15 wins lead the majors, No. 8 in the big leagues and fourth in the NL in ERA among qualified starters (just behind Strasburg), and seventh in MLB and second in the league with 182 strikeouts, which appeals to the traditional voters relying heavily on Triple Crown categories. The 33-year-old right-hander has allowed just 37 walks in 166.1 innings this season.

But Greinke should also appeal to more analytically minded voters. Greinke has struck out 27.6 percent of the hitters he has faced this season, which ranks among the top 10 in the majors for starters. His 22 percent K-BB% is sixth overall. Greinke also ranks among the top five in the big leagues in WHIP (1.08), is sixth in ERA- (69), seventh in SIERA (3.36), xFIP- (74) and xFIP (3.19) and eighth in FIP (3.17) and FIP- (72).

Finally, both Greinke and the Diamondbacks have recovered brilliantly from a disappointing 2016 campaign. In his first season in Arizona, Greinke was 13-7 with a 4.37 ERA and 4.12 FIP – both his highest for a full season since 2005, when he was 21. The D-Backs were 69-93 and finished fourth in the NL West. This season, Arizona is 76-55, second in the division and in line for a Wild Card spot.