AL Cy Young candidates after the first two months of the season
By Anthony Sosa
Ervin Santana
After April, Ervin Santana looked like the best pitcher in baseball and earned our AL Cy Young award for the month. Now through May, Santana continues to display his resurgence in 2017.
Despite a sweep by the Astros on Wednesday, the Minnesota Twins remain tied with the Cleveland Indians for first place in the AL Central. Santana has played a huge role in the Twins’ great start to 2017.
In his 13th big league season, Santana looks better than ever. He earned just one All-Star Game appearance so far in his career (2008). His only time placed in the Cy Young voting occurred that season. He finished in sixth place in 2008.
Now in 2017, Santana leads baseball in ERA (1.75), WHIP (0.844), H/9 (4.208) and shutouts (2). He sports a 7-2 record with 56 strikeouts. If the season ended today, Santana would probably take home the hardware.
Compared to his career numbers, 2017 proves to be the outlier for Santana. His career stats include a 140-118 record, 4.01 ERA, 1.264 WHIP, 4.22 FIP and 1,794 strikeouts.
The most recent Twins pitcher to win the Cy Young award was Johan Santana in 2006. Although, if the Twins start to fall in the standings before the trade deadline, Santana might end up on another team before season’s end.