AL Cy Young candidates after the first two months of the season
By Anthony Sosa
Dallas Keuchel
The Houston Astros are the best team in baseball heading into June. Astros ace Dallas Keuchel continues to prove a key piece for the club.
As mentioned on the first slide, only one of the pitchers on this list has won the Cy Young award before. Keuchel won the award in 2015. That season, Keuchel led the AL in wins (20), shutouts (2) and WHIP (1.017). He also posted a 2.48 ERA, 2.91 FIP and 216 strikeouts. He became the first Astro since Roger Clemens in 2004 to win the Cy Young.
Keuchel followed up his Cy Young award-winning season with a disappointing 2016 season. He finished last season with a 9-12 record, 4.55 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 3.87 FIP and 144 strikeouts. His performance in 2016 had many people wondering if Keuchel could ever return to his 2015 Cy Young form.
The left-hander answered the skepticism in the first two months of 2017. So far this season, Keuchel leads the league in wins (8) and ERA-plus (212). He also owns the second-lowest ERA (1.81) and WHIP (0.876) in baseball.
The 29-year-old looks back to Cy Young form. He might finish 2017 with better numbers than his 2015 season. With the Astros winning a lot, that plays into Keuchel’s favor.
Injuries remain an issue for Keuchel. He dealt with an injury-plagued season in 2016. He also spent a short stint on the DL in 2017 with a pinched nerve in his neck. If Keuchel can remain healthy, the sky’s the limit for him.