MLB: Top Five AL Cy Young Contenders For May

BEST OF THE REST

Before we get to the top five Cy Young contenders, let’s take a quick look at No. 6-10.

• 6. Stephen Wright, for the Boston Red Sox has had a fantastic year. A 5-4 record with a 2.45 ERA in 10 starts are all career bests. Featuring a knuckleball that dances better than any contestant on Dancing With the Stars, Wright has charmed New England. His three complete games ties him with Chris Sale for the AL lead. He is also in the top 10 in pitching WAR at 1.8 (10^th), a WHIP of 1.091 (6^th), an ERA 2.45 (6^th) and an ERA+ of 181 (3^rd). Allowing 6.459 hits-per-9, good enough for 5^th, Wright is keeping hitters guessing. Can he keep up this run as the season goes along? The Red Sox will need him strong as they make a playoff run.
• 7. One of the feel-good stories if the year, Rich Hill keeps grinding along for the Oakland Athletics. In his first year on the west coast, Hill is 8-3 with an ERA of 2.25 (2^nd in the AL). Not bad for a pitcher who has not been a full-time starter since 2007. He bolstered his chances in May with a 5-1 mark posting an ERA of 2.13. Now the staff ace with Sonny Gray on the disabled list, Oakland will need him to keep pounding the strike zone if they are to climb back in the race. Hill’s FIP is 2.67 (2^nd) and ERA+ is 178 (4^th). His WHIP, however, is outside the top 10.
• T8. Chris Tillman of the Baltimore Orioles has pitched the Birds into second place in the AL East with a 7-1 record and an ERA of 2.92, good for tenth in the league. Going 5-0 in May, Tillman pitched his way into contention for his first Cy Young. With him striking out 8.6 per nine, he will keep AL hitters missing pitches. If Baltimore can hold their spot, Tillman will need to continue at this level. An increase in walks and home runs allowed in May, 19 walks and five homers in 39.2 innings, is something to keep in the back of your head as the season goes along.
• T8. An injury dropped Jordan Zimmerman of the Detroit Tigers this month. In his first year with the Tigers, he won the AL Pitcher of the Month for April and is 7-2 overall. With an ERA of 2.52, his ERA+ of 162 is seventh-best and his 2.1 WAR is eighth. The injury made May a bad month. A 2-2 record with a 4.88 ERA for the month hurts his chances. Allowing five homers in 27.2 innings did not help. With Justin Verlander finding old form and the Tigers on the rebound, Zimmerman will have plenty of chances to strut his stuff this summer.
• 10. Josh Tomlin of Cleveland Indians rounds out the top 10. With a 7-1 won/loss record and pinpoint control, his 0.988 walks-per-9 leads the league, Tomlin, Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber are keeping the Indians right in the thick of a hot race for the AL Central. A 3.79 ERA, on the other hand, hurts him. When batters make contact, the ball flies. In 54.2 innings, Tomlin has surrendered 23 earned runs and ten home runs.

Next: A Revival in The Bronx