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MLB awards watch: AL Cy Young race

By William Schneiderhan

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 10: Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow #20 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 10, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 10: Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow #20 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 10, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 04: Starting pitcher Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field on April 04, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 04: Starting pitcher Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field on April 04, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Trevor Bauer, RHP Cleveland Indians

2-1, 42 strikeouts (3rd), 0.98 WHIP (7th), 1.4 WAR (1st) and 2.20 ERA (6th).

Trevor Bauer joins fellow American League Central starter Jose Berrios on this list. Bauer owns a sparkling ERA and WHIP, while dialing it back to punch out a boatload of batters to start this campaign.

But Bauer has wrestled with pitch control early on. He has walked 13 batters in 32.2 innings pitched. His control issues couldn’t have been made more evident than when he walked six over seven innings in his second start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays.

However, Bauer has had his fair share of battles with control. And he has done a good job of cutting those numbers down each year since 2015.

So part of Bauer’s control issues can probably also be chalked up to early-season rust. Especially when it comes to a veteran pitcher, and someone who is obsessed with mechanics and pitch execution, like Bauer.

Bauer has built off the career-year he had last season when he made the All-Star team and went 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA and punched 221 hitters out. Most of his pitch usage and contact results fall in line with his career averages over the past few seasons.

As mentioned before, and what can also be said in Berrios’ case, Bauer will benefit from pitching in the AL Central for the majority of the season. Not only is the division light, he also happens to pitch for the club that’s pegged to win the division without much fight.

Therefore, Bauer could make a real run at claiming the first Cy Young of his career.

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