MLB Cy Young Award Winners Announced
The Baseball Writers Association of America announced the winners of the Cy Young Award for both leagues on Wednesday evening. The award winners are both two-time winners. Here is the best pitcher from the National League
National League
Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets is the reigning, defending National League Cy Young winner. He finished the season with an 11-8 record and a 2.43 ERA in 32 starts. deGrom struck out 255 batters, which led the league and walked 44 batters.
deGrom won this year’s award with a close to a unanimous vote, he received 29 first-place votes. He barely beat out last year’s record-setting feat for least wins by a Cy Young award winner. He won last year and only had 10 wins. Jacob deGrom will look to win his third straight award in 2020 under new manager Carlos Beltran. Randy Johnson was the last pitcher to win more than two Cy Youngs in a row when he won four straight from 1999-2002.
American League
The Houston Astros Justin Verlander is now a two-time winner of the Cy Young award. He won the award in 2011 with the Detroit Tigers. Verlander completed the regular season 21-6, with a 2.58 ERA and 300 strikeouts. He had a WHIP below 1.00 and pitched 223 innings. This season Verlander led all pitchers in WAR, wins, WHIP, innings pitched, and six other advanced metrics. He threw a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays, the third of his career. Verlander also collected his 3,000 strikeout this season.
The vote was extremely close and could have gone to either Astros pitcher; however, Verlander received 17 first-place votes to 13 for Gerrit Cole. The second-place votes were reversed. Verlander is only the second pitcher to have won the Rookie of the Year, the Cy Young, and the MVP in their career.
Wrap-Up
This season was almost all about the long ball and the offensive records set. But this year’s Cy Young winners remind us all that there are still quality pitchers that can pitch deeper into games and the starting pitcher is still relevant.
Verlander won his second Cy Young at age 36. His eight years between Cy Young awards marks the longest for multiple time winners. deGrom has a combined 21 wins in his two award-winning seasons. Verlander won 21 games this year. That is an interesting stat.
