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MLB Cy Young Power Rankings: We’re all living in Justin Verlander’s world

By Adam Strangis

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 16: Justin Verlander
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 16: Justin Verlander /
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PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 11: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals reacts after pitching an inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 11, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Washington Nationals won 3-1. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 11: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals reacts after pitching an inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 11, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Washington Nationals won 3-1. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

2. Max Scherzer, RHP for the Washington Nationals

8-1 2.13 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 38.2 strikeout rate, 2.8 WAR

The big man for the Nationals might be coming off his worst start of the season but that doesn’t knock him out of the number one spot for the N.L. Cy Young as of the end of May. It’s been a few days but I still can’t figure out how the Marlins got Mad Max. These starts happen to the best of them and the numbers for Scherzer are still out of this world. He actually set a major league record for the fewest innings pitched to get to 100 strikeouts on the season(63 IP). Perhaps it’s because of pitches like this –

He’s started 11 games so far this year and he’s had double digit strikeout totals in seven of those starts! That’s a ridiculous rate and much like Cole, he goes deep into games virtually every time out. Going six innings every fifth day is valuable in and of itself. When you can do that while striking out the amount of batters that Scherzer does and giving up so few runs, that’s what Cy Young award winners are made of. Scherzer is seeking to become only the third pitcher in the National League since 1967 to win the the award at least three straight seasons. He’s got every chance in the world given how he’s pitching currently.

Washington should at least be in the running for the N.L. East title through the rest of the season. That shouldn’t matter, but it does weigh on voters. It also doesn’t hurt that Scherzer already has racked up eight wins. If he’s racked up 20+ wins, has an ERA under 2.50, a great WHIP and an astronomical strikeout rate, it’s going to be really difficult for Scherzer to not win his third straight Cy Young in 2018.

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