MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 AL Cy Young candidates thru April
1. Chris Archer – 5 GS, 3-2, 0.84 ERA, 37 K
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
There’s a new ace in town, Alex Cobb. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer is off to an incredible start. The 26-year-old has a number of things going for him. He has a presence on the mound at 6-foot-3, power-pitching credentials with his strikeout totals and four very sustainable pitches, throwing only a slider and change-up as his off-speed offerings.
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Archer, despite also being right-handed, dominates left-handed hitters. In that regard, he a deviation from the norm. Lefties versus righties in 2014 hit .233 vs .259 against him. In 2015, Archer has limited right-handed hitters to a .147 BAA and .178 clip when facing lefties.
Only Keuchel’s WHIP of 0.73 edges out Archer’s 0.74 for best in the AL by a starting pitcher. But Archer’s K/9 of 10.3 makes Keuchel’s mark of 5.35 look rather un-impressive at the same time.
Archer is still relatively young and has not learned all the nuances of the game just yet, but the former sixth round draft pick is getting there.
Playing for a team that defends well and plays in a home park that favors pitching over hitting, Archer has that advantage to counteract his relative inexperience. He also has the stuff to compete for a pitching Triple Crown, something he shares in common with Hernandez, but which Keuchel and Gray lack the makings of right now.