It is almost that time of year, where all the awards come out and honor the players who truly are the best of the season. Last season, Robbie Ray and Corbin Burnes were given the honor of winning the American League and National League Cy Young Award, respectively. But this year? It is a tight race, especially in the National League.
Let’s talk about the top 3 Cy Young Award candidates in each league, and it is much closer than some people may think.
National League
Julio Urias, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers just became the first team this season with 100 wins, and it is not just because of their offense. Julio Urias has been lights out for them this year, having National League-best 2.27 ERA in 28 games so far. He also has NL-best 0.95 WHIP amongst starters. However, the Cy Young Award is given to the best all-around pitcher. Given his lack of innings pitched, only at 158.2, averaging 5 innings per game, should he be given the award for the most dominant pitcher in the National League?
Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
It is hard to give awards to players on bad teams. Even though that should not matter, sometimes it seems as if it does. This season, in 29 games, Alcantara is at a 2.43 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. He is averaging eight strikeouts per nine innings, showing complete dominance on the mound. The only downside with him compared to the other top pitchers, he has more walks. Alcantara is my pick for Cy Young, but it would not surprise me if the next option would be the winner.
Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers
Burnes has a chance to be a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner. The last back-back winners in the National League was Jacob deGrom in 2018-19, Max Scherzer in 2016-17, and Clayton Kershaw in 2013-14, and Burnes has a strong chance on doing that again. This season, Burnes has a 2.97 ERA in 29 games with a 0.98 WHIP. Yes, that is slightly worse than Urias and Alcantara. However, he has more innings pitched than Urias, and has a higher strikeouts per nine innings rate than all of them, with 11 K/9 this season. Burnes has similar numbers to Phillies’ ace Aaron Nola, but given Nola’s higher ERA, he likely will not win.
American League
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
The 2021 MVP, Ohtani is having another lights out year, except this season, he is even better on the mound. In 25 games, Ohtani has a 2.43 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP, averaging 11.9 K/9. Ohtani has been unhittable this season, having the second-fewest hits allowed amongst AL starters. Ohtani easily could be the AL winner, but there are two other players who are very close to him in the race.
Dylan Cease, Chicago White Sox
Dylan Cease is having a breakout season. The 26-year-old starting pitcher for the White Sox is dominating in every single start. In 29 games so far, Cease has a 2.16 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and 11.5 K/9. Cease, who has 215 strikeouts, has the second-most in the American League, just behind Gerrit Cole. And a little bonus for Cease? He is 14-7, and 14 wins on a struggling team is very impressive.
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
The last time a closer won in the American League was Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and, in the National League, Eric Gagne in 2003. But this season, Clase has proven to be the best closer in all of baseball. This season, Clase has 36 saves with league-low three blown saves. He has a 0.72 WHIP, a 1.27 ERA and a massive 9.2 K/9. Opponents against him are only hitting .161, making him nearly unhittable. If Clase is to win, it would be a surprise, especially given the year that league-wide fan favorite Shohei Ohtani has been having.
Nonetheless, whoever wins the prestigious award of the best overall pitcher in their respected league, the winner most definitely deserves it, as all six of these pitchers have been phenomenal.