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MLB: Award Winners for the Month of April

By Anthony Sosa

Apr 20, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) pitches in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) pitches in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova (46) delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of the 2017 season opening home game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova (46) delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of the 2017 season opening home game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

 April Cy Young

AL – Ervin Santana

The battle for AL Cy Young in April is a close race between Ervin Santana and Chris Sale. Santana edges out Sale by a slim margin.

Santana owns one-third of the Minnesota Twins’ wins in April. He’s a perfect 4-0 with a 0.77 ERA. Santana pitches to contact and isn’t a big strikeout pitcher. In his 35 innings pitched, Santana’s struck out 26 batters.

Last season, Santana posted a 3.38 ERA which tied his best single-season ERA. His 0.77 ERA is tops amongst all starters in MLB this season. He also leads all of MLB in ERA-plus (510), opponents average against (.116) and WHIP (0.657).

The Twins finished April with a 12-11 record. They currently sit in third place in the AL Central. If the Twins plan to compete in 2017, they need Santana to keep pitching this way.

Honorable Mention: Chris Sale, Dallas Keuchel and James Paxton

NL – Ivan Nova

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ right-hander Ivan Nova earns the top spot for NL Cy Young for April. What stands out with Nova is his two complete games, providing the Pirates with a lot of innings early on.

Nova sports a 3-2 record with an ERA of 1.50. He, like Santana, isn’t a strikeout pitcher. In his 36 innings, Nova has 22 strikeouts.

The Pirates sit in last place right now in the NL Central. Other players in Pittsburgh need to step up if the Pirates want to move up in the standings this season.

Honorable Mention: Mike Leake, Greg Holland and Clayton Kershaw

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