The 2024 MLB season is rapidly approaching its end, and the race for the prestigious Cy Young award is heating up with just over five and a half weeks remaining. This year, voters will rank pitchers from 1 to 5 on their ballots, and the competition is fierce.
Skubal's Dominant Season
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been a standout performer, leading the majors in ERA and ERA+, and topping the American League in strikeouts, FIP, and strikeout rate. With a record of 14-4, he has been a cornerstone for his team. The Tigers have struggled without him, holding a 44-56 record in games where he doesn't start.
Skubal also has a commanding lead in Baseball Reference's version of WAR and FanGraphs' leaderboard. He recently set a new career high in innings pitched, marking a remarkable season. However, fans have seen him take his last turn on normal rest this season, which might impact his final statistics.
Contenders in the Mix
Despite Skubal's excellence, other pitchers are making a strong case for themselves. Seth Lugo has been a workhorse, pitching 166 2/3 innings with a 14-7 record, a 3.02 ERA, and a 1.09 WHIP. However, he’s posted a 5.24 ERA over his last seven starts, which could hurt his chances.
Logan Gilbert has shone with a 2.96 ERA, leading the league in WHIP at 0.88. He's second only to Lugo in innings pitched. The Mariners, once holding a ten-game lead in June, have stumbled significantly since then, but Gilbert's performances remain a bright spot.
Other Key Performers
Corbin Burnes has delivered another strong season with a 12-5 record, a 3.10 ERA, and 144 strikeouts in 153 2/3 innings. But his performance this month has been shaky, with a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts.
Emmanuel Clase has been nearly untouchable in the closer role, achieving 37 saves out of 40 opportunities with a microscopic 0.63 ERA, a 0.66 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings.
Valdez and Sale Showcase Talent
Framber Valdez has also impressed with a 13-5 record, a 3.20 ERA, and a 1.14 WHIP over 137 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Chris Sale leads the league in wins, strikeouts, FIP, strikeout rate, and FanGraphs' WAR. Despite these achievements, Sale isn’t among the top 10 in innings pitched, which may affect his standing with voters.
Marathon Men: Webb and Wheeler
Logan Webb leads the league with 164 2/3 innings pitched and has an 11-8 record with a solid 3.17 ERA. Zack Wheeler, another workhorse, boasts a 12-5 record, a 2.72 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and a significant 162 strikeouts in 148 2/3 innings.
Rising Stars
Paul Skenes has emerged as a promising talent with a 7-2 record, a 2.30 ERA, and 121 strikeouts in just 98 innings, totaling a 4.0 WAR for the season. Hunter Greene has also made a name for himself with a 9-4 record and a 2.83 ERA. Leading the majors in hit batsmen, Greene has experienced an elbow injury, which could pose challenges in his career trajectory.
Blanco's No-Hitter and López's Consistency
Ronel Blanco made headlines by throwing a no-hitter in his first outing. He holds a 9-6 record with a 2.89 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 134 innings. Reynaldo López has also demonstrated consistency with a 2.06 ERA in 104 2/3 innings.
As we head into the final stretch of the season, these compelling narratives are bound to shape the discussions around the Cy Young award. With so many strong candidates, the voters will have a challenging task ahead, ensuring that the best of the best are rightfully recognized.