MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL Cy Young Candidates Through June
By Ron Juckett
As MLB starts the second half of the season, the race for the 2016 National League Cy Young Award hinges on the back of Clayton Kershaw.
The 2016 National League Cy Young Award race depends entirely on the health of Clayton Kershaw. If the Los Angeles Dodgers ace comes off the MLB disabled list quickly and can deliver the same numbers, the award is his, plain and simple.
If his mild lower back injury keeps him out for long, or if he struggles on his return, there are candidates ready to pounce and bring home the hardware.
As with the American League, much of the playoff focus in the NL during the second half sits with the Wild Card race. Although the Dodgers and New York Mets hold the current spots, the surprising Miami Marlins and steady St. Louis Cardinals are ready to pounce. Now we have reached the halfway point of the season over the holiday weekend, games magnify and the pressure most of us find enjoyable builds.
Beyond Kershaw, a pair of aces to the north nip at his heels. In the east, the Washington Nationals and New York battle for more than position. There is one pitcher on this list who will draw considerable trade interest as the deadline approaches. For as clear-cut as the race looks now, the subplots boiling under the surface gives this race a complexion deeper than usual.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the month is the fall of what sure looked like a credible candidate 30 days ago. Just your average month in Major League Baseball.
A reminder, any statistics in bold are current as of July 4.
Next: Those Outside the Top 5