Who leads the AL Cy Young race as May comes to a close?

MLB awards watch: AL Cy Young race

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 02: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) delivers the ball in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox on May 2, 2019 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO – MAY 18: Lucas Giolito #27 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 18, 2019 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

5. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Chicago White Sox

7-1, 69 strikeouts, 0.98 WHIP, 2.0 WAR and 2.85 ERA.

If Hyun-Jin Ryu wasn’t exceeding even Cy Young standards, Lucas Giolito would be the hottest pitcher in baseball. However, if the only pitcher who’s one-upping you is a current Cy Young favorite, then you’re doing something right.

It has taken longer than expected for Giolito to consistently figure it out at the Major League level, but he has finally hit his stride. Over his last seven starts, he is 5-0, has an ERA of 1.64 with a WHIP of 0.80, to go with 51 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Giolito had a miserable 2018, pitching to an ERA over six and walking 90 batters, which was the second-highest total in all of baseball. When looking at his total body of work, the walks have been the biggest difference for him in 2019. He has cut down his base-on-balls per-nine from 4.67 last year to 3.00 this season.

The 24-year-old has increased his strikeouts per-nine as well, currently at a career-high 10.35. Using his changeup more, he has induced a career-high soft-contact percentage over 21 percent.

If he keeps this up, Giolito will continue to rise. In April, he looked like the 2018 version of Giolito with a ERA over six in three starts. In May, he’s won five ballgames while pitching to an ERA of 1.74.

Giolito may have arrived, and he is pitching like a Cy Young contender.

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