MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 AL Cy Young candidates through July
Jul 30, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (26) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Cy Young chase in the American League continues to be an exciting battle to watch unfold as the 2015 season moves past the All-Star break and into August. Many familiar pitchers are vying for this year’s hardware, along with a few newcomers who will attempt to take home the award for the first time.
This time last month we were talking about Chris Sale‘s mesmerizing run of dominance. After a relatively slow start, the rangy White Sox left-hander went on an absolute tear, striking out at least ten batters in eight consecutive outings from May 23 to June 30. He sputtered a bit in July, however, putting up a 4.19 ERA over five starts. If he has another masterful streak in him, he could be back in the Cy Young mix in a hurry.
Perhaps no pitcher in the Junior Circuit had a better July than Scott Kazmir. MLB agreed, awarding him the latest AL Pitcher of the Month honor. In five July starts he allowed only one earned run over 34 innings. He was also dealt from faltering Oakland to the middle of a playoff push in Houston prior to the trade deadline. Kazmir could be an intriguing dark horse candidate to watch moving forward.
It’s a strong field this year, strong enough that several deserving names just missed the cut. As the season barrels into its final two months, here are the top 5 pitchers in the AL to keep an eye on in the Cy Young race.
Honorable mentions: Scott Kazmir (HOU), Chris Sale (CHW)
Next: Pitcher #5
5. Felix Hernandez
Jul 29, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
King Felix is no stranger to the AL Cy Young race, and he once again finds himself right in the thick of it with two months to go. On a Mariners team currently eight games below .500, Felix Hernandez has racked up an AL-best 13 victories. He sports a 3.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 3.41 K/BB ratio through 143.2 innings on the season. His 3.7 WAR is fourth among AL pitchers.
July was a fairly good month for Hernandez, who posted a 2.94 ERA in five starts. That includes a clunker of an outing on July 29 against Arizona (6.2 IP, 7 ER), which if removed lowers his ERA for the month to 1.33.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Hernandez is that he hasn’t lost much effectiveness despite working with somewhat diminished stuff. His fastball sits at around 92 mph now, down from 95+ in his earlier days. He now features his changeup and sinker more, to very positive results.
Next: Pitcher #4
4. David Price
Aug 3, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays opening pitcher David Price (14) pitches in the first inning against Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
David Price was one of the biggest names to switch teams prior to last week’s trade deadline, and if he can help snap the Blue Jays’ MLB-longest postseason drought, he will likely receive plenty of love come awards season.
Price took to his new Toronto home quickly on Monday afternoon, throwing eight strong innings against Minnesota in a 5-1 victory. He held the Twins lineup to just three hits while striking out 11 to earn his 10th win of the year. If the future holds more performances like that, both Price’s and the Jays’ respective stocks are sure to rise.
The tall southpaw was well on his way to another sterling campaign even before arriving north of the border. He has a 2.45 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 4.81 K/BB ratio through 154 innings so far this season. Potent bats aren’t lacking in the AL East, but it’s a division Price knows well from his days in Tampa Bay.
Price will need to beat out some fellow big names if he wants to nab his second Cy Young award and become the first since Rick Sutcliffe to win it after being traded midseason. But if one thing is certain, it’s that he’ll be a very popular man when this winter’s free agency period opens.
Next: Pitcher #3
3. Chris Archer
Jul 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) looks on against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
If you want to know why the Tampa Bay Rays are still in the American League playoff picture, look no further than Chris Archer. The 26-year-old righty has taken his game to another level this season. With many of the old familiar names now gone from the rotation due to free agency, trade or injury, Archer has stepped confidently into the limelight to become the team’s ace.
Archer owns a 2.54 ERA through 148.2 innings pitched, along with a 0.99 WHIP and 5.29 K/BB. His 3.8 WAR places him third among AL pitchers, and his 180 strikeouts trail only Chris Sale (186) for the league lead. He also picked up a very well-deserved All-Star Game selection (his first) last month.
Archer has been one of the better starters in the league the last couple seasons, but he has truly pitched his way into the game’s elite in 2015. Can he cap it off with a Cy Young win? The competition is fierce, but he absolutely merits a spot in the conversation.
Next: Pitcher #2
2. Dallas Keuchel
Jun 30, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Astros continue to be one of baseball’s greatest surprises of 2015 as they attempt to secure their first postseason appearance since 2005 and first division title since 2001. Rotation ace Dallas Keuchel has been steering the ship since the very beginning and he is still one of the frontrunners for this year’s AL Cy Young award.
Keuchel ranks among the league leaders in virtually every noteworthy pitching category. He boasts a 2.35 ERA (third in AL), 0.99 WHIP (second) and 3.78 K/BB ratio in 157 innings. His 13 wins are tied for most in the league, his 140 strikeouts are good for sixth and his 5.2 WAR is second-best out of all AL pitchers.
Everyone will be waiting to see how the Astros handle the stretch run and a potential postseason berth, and Dallas Keuchel will be one of the main attractions. His dominant display through the first several months of the season has placed him into esteemed company, but late-season heroics could help put him over top in the quest for his first Cy Young award.
Next: Pitcher #1
1. Sonny Gray
Jul 17, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Being on a contender certainly doesn’t hurt a Cy Young candidate’s chances, but voters have given the award to hurlers on less-than-stellar teams if their performances warrant it. Right now, Sonny Gray finds himself in that type of situation. The Oakland A’s have spent much of the season near or in the cellar of the AL West, but at the moment their ace is the clear-cut best pitcher in the American League.
Gray had a stellar July to catapult himself into the top spot of our latest AL Cy Young rankings. In five starts he posted a 2.37 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .187 batting average. He also tossed two complete game shutouts (tying him for the MLB lead) during the month against Cleveland and the L.A. Dodgers.
The 25-year-old’s 2.12 ERA is second-best in the league, and his 0.98 WHIP is tops. His 5.8 WAR is also currently the highest among AL pitchers. Gray will need to continue shining bright enough to overcome his club’s poor performance, but that hasn’t been a problem for him so far. On a team with the second-worst record in the AL, he has still managed to pick up 11 victories. For the moment, his recent brilliance earns him the top position in the AL Cy Young leaderboard.