The 2013 Tigers rotation includes three Cy Young winners, but six trophies between them.
Of the group, Verlander won the first (and his only to date) in 2011 when he was also named the AL MVP and won an ERA title. He finished this season with 251 innings pitched with an ERA of 2.40 and a WHIP of 0.920. He had a league-high 24 wins and a league-high 250 strikeouts. Throughout his 14-year career, Verlander has finished second in the Cy Young race three times and in the top 10 eight times.
Rick Porcello won his in 2016 (Verlander finished a close and controversial second that season). Porcello pitched 223 innings, had 22 wins, and finished with an ERA of 3.15 and a WHIP of 1.009. That same season, Verlander led the AL with 254 strikeouts and WHIP of 1.001. His ERA was also lower than Porcello’s at 3.04.
Max Scherzer has had the most success with Cy Young Awards. He won his first in 2013 with an ERA of 2.90, 21 wins, and a WHIP of 0.970. His wins and WHIP led the league. His second and third wins came in 2016 and 2017 with the Nationals. In those two seasons, his combined stats include an ERA of 2.75, NL-leading 552 strikeouts, and an NL-leading WHIP of 0.937. Scherzer finished second in the race in 2018 despite leading the NL in strikeouts (300), innings pitched (220.2), and WHIP (0.911).
Both Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez have not won Cy Young Awards. However, in 2013 Sanchez won the ERA title, pitching 2.57 in 182 innings. He finished fourth in the Cy Young race that season, losing to his teammate Scherzer. Fister’s only Cy Young ranking came in 2014 when he finished eighth in the race. He pitched for the Nationals that season. Clayton Kershaw and Corey Kluber won that year.
2013 Tigers Rotation Cy Young Awards Total: SIX
How did they fare against the other top rotations?
Of the 1997 Braves, John Smoltz won a Cy Young in 1996. Tom Glavine won two of them in 1991 and 1998. And Greg Maddux has four: 1992-1995.
1997 Braves Rotation Cy Young Awards Total: SEVEN
Of the 2011 Phillies rotation, Roy Halladay has two Cy Young Awards in 2003 and 2010, Cliff Lee has one from 2008; he also the ERA title that year.
2011 Phillies Rotation Cy Young Awards Total: THREE
The 1981 Astros rotation did not win any Cy Young Awards. Despite both Ryan pitching for 27 years, he never won the coveted award. He came in second in 1973, behind Jim Palmer. He also finished third in ’74 and ’77. Interestingly, his future teammates, Niekro and Sutton finished 3rd and 4th respectively that same season. Ryan had a handful of other top-10 finishes. Ryan won an ERA title in 1981 and 1987 (2.76).
Sutton also won an ERA title. His was in1980 when he pitched for the Dodgers. He was also named an All-Star Game MVP in 1977. Only Sutton and Ryan are in the Hall of Fame.
1981 Astros Rotation Cy Young Awards Total: ZERO
Only Roger Clemens (7) and Randy Johnson (5) have more Cy Young wins than Maddux has. The 2013 Tigers stack up well when it comes to Cy Young wins. If Scherzer continues to pitch like he has, there is a good chance he could add to his totals. And, Verlander seems to perpetually be in the race for the award, too.