2024 MLB Season: Cy Young Race Heats Up in Final Weeks
2024 MLB Season: Cy Young Race Heats Up in Final Weeks
As the 2024 MLB season heads towards its climax, the competition for the prestigious Cy Young award remains as intense as ever. With just over five weeks of regular-season play left, a handful of pitchers have emerged as frontrunners, each with commanding performances and noteworthy achievements that make the race too close to call.
Leading Contenders and Strong Performances
The Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal has been nothing short of sensational this season. Leading the majors in ERA and ERA+, Skubal also tops the American League in strikeouts, FIP, and strikeout rate. His stellar record of 14-4 stands in stark contrast to the Tigers' 44-56 record in games where he doesn't start, underscoring his vital impact on the team. Skubal's consistency is further highlighted by his commanding lead in both Baseball Reference's version of WAR and FanGraphs' leaderboard. Despite recently taking his last turn on normal rest this season, Skubal has already set a new career high in innings pitched, making a strong case for his Cy Young candidacy.
Seth Lugo of the San Diego Padres has been another standout, pitching 166 2/3 innings with a 14-7 record. Lugo boasts a 3.02 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP, though his recent form has seen a dip with a 5.24 ERA over his last seven starts. Nevertheless, his endurance and performance over the majority of the season keep him firmly in the race.
The Seattle Mariners’ Logan Gilbert has also made his mark with a 2.96 ERA and a league-leading 0.88 WHIP. Gilbert is second only to Lugo in innings pitched this season. However, the Mariners, who held a commanding ten-game lead in June, have dramatically stumbled since then, which may impact Gilbert's overall perception.
Veteran Star Power
Veteran pitcher Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers remains a formidable figure in the pursuit of the Cy Young. With a 12-5 record and a 3.10 ERA, Burnes has struck out 144 batters in 153 2/3 innings. However, his performance this month has been less than optimal, posting a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts.
On the other hand, Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros has maintained solid form with a 13-5 record, a 3.20 ERA, and a 1.14 WHIP over 137 2/3 innings. Valdez continues to be a reliable asset for his team, contributing significantly to their pitching strength.
Another notable mention is Chris Sale, who leads the league in wins, strikeouts, FIP, strikeout rate, and FanGraphs' WAR. Despite not being in the top ten in innings pitched, Sale's impressive statistics keep him in the mix.
Emerging Talents and Unwavering Consistency
Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants leads the league with 164 2/3 innings pitched, holding an 11-8 record with a 3.17 ERA. Webb's durability and effectiveness have been crucial for the Giants.
Zack Wheeler's season for the Philadelphia Phillies has been remarkable, with a 12-5 record, a 2.72 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts in 148 2/3 innings. His consistency and overall dominance on the mound have not gone unnoticed.
Rookie sensations have also made significant impacts this season. Paul Skenes has a 7-2 record, a 2.30 ERA, and 121 strikeouts in 98 innings, posting an impressive 4.0 WAR. Additionally, Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds, with a 9-4 record and a 2.83 ERA, has struck out 162 batters in 143 1/3 innings, though he leads the majors in hit batsmen and is currently dealing with an elbow injury.
Ronel Blanco's season highlights include a no-hitter in his first outing, with a 9-6 record, a 2.89 ERA, and 130 strikeouts in 134 innings. Despite his early-season mastery, his mid-season form dipped slightly, affecting his overall statistics.
Relievers Making Their Mark
Not to be overlooked in the Cy Young conversation are the contributions from the bullpen, particularly Emmanuel Clase. Clase has been lights out with 37 saves out of 40 opportunities, sporting an eye-popping 0.63 ERA, a 0.66 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. His dominance and reliability in crucial moments have made him an integral part of his team's success.
Reynaldo López has also pitched superbly from the bullpen, posting a 2.06 ERA across 104 2/3 innings. His effectiveness in long relief has provided much-needed stability.
Final Stretch
With a diverse array of standout performers, the race for the Cy Young award promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season. Each contender brings a unique narrative and impressive set of stats, and voters will have the challenging task of ranking these elite pitchers on their ballots. As the season winds down, the final weeks of play will scrutinize every pitch, every strikeout, and every win or loss, ultimately defining who stands tall as the league's best pitcher in 2024.
