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So far, this year’s Cy Young Award is anyone’s game

By Adam Strangis

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals receives the 2017 Cy Young Award before the home opener against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on April 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals receives the 2017 Cy Young Award before the home opener against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on April 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 31: Justin Verlander
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 31: Justin Verlander /

2. Justin Verlander, RHP for the Houston Astros

9-3, 1.82 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 31.3 strikeout rate, 113.2 IP and 3.7 WAR 

Verlander might be coming off his “worst” start of the season because he gave up four earned runs but he’s been incredible this season.  Of the 17 games he has started, only once did he not make it a full six innings pitched. On top of that, this past starts was the first time all year he gave up more than three earned and it marked only the fourth time he didn’t give up two or fewer earned runs. Verlander has been throughly consistent and dominating every time he takes the ball and even at 35 years old, he can bring the heat.

Maybe this doesn’t make a huge difference, but one has to wonder if Verlander can pitch with a bit more ease mentally because he knows he’s in the best rotation in baseball. Unlike deGrom, Severino and even Sale to an extent, Verlander knows that he has pitchers to back him up if he falters a bit. Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton going the next days have to help ease some of the pressure out there on the mound. Verlander can just go out and make his pitches the best way he knows how. Everything is clicking for him and if the season ended today, he would be the A.L. Cy Young. The Astros are defending champions and are in the midst of another great season. Verlander is a big reason why both those things are facts right now. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball by any measure.

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