With less than two months to go in the season, the 2023 NL Cy Young Award race is growing more competitive. In July, there were three genuine contenders for the award. However, a dark horse has emerged. This realistic fourth candidate continues to pitch himself into the conversation and his team closer to a postseason berth. This race may come down to the wire as no heavy favorite exists.
Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
Zac Gallen is the odds-on favorite to win the 2023 NL Cy Young Award. The Arizona pitcher is 13-5 with a 3.17 ERA. His 162 innings pitched suit the National League’s third best, and 168 strikeouts rank fourth. Gallen leads the NL with a 1.049 WHIP and is fourth with a 5.09 K/BB ratio. After being named the starter for the National League in the All-Star game, Gallen continues to help Arizona make a push for the postseason. Gallen has the best overall resume for winning the Cy Young. However, voting tends to be subjective, and if Arizona does not make the postseason, voters may opt for a pitcher on a playoff team.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
Spencer Strider continues to lead the way for the Atlanta rotation. He owns a 14-4 record in 146.1 innings pitched. Strider is tied for the NL lead in wins with those 14, and he also leads the NL in strikeouts with 227. He is first among qualifying starters with a 14.0 K/9 and is on pace for a 300-strikeout season. The only possible detriment to Strider’s chances is a 3.57 ERA, the highest among the Cy Young favorites. However, Strider is playing for the best baseball team, which tends to help the cause of a candidate for any award.
Blake Snell, San Diego Padres
The 2023 version of Blake Snell is looking more like the Cy Young Award winner he was in 2018. Snell leads the NL in ERA with a 2.65 and an H/9 ratio of 6.2. He is 10-8 in 136 innings pitched. Snell owns 176 strikeouts and a 154 ERA+, both suitable for second-best in the National League. However, he has given up 78 walks, which is the most among all starters in the league. Subsequently, Snell’s high number of walks and overall record may be a disadvantage when the votes are cast.
Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs
After a tremendous first half that earned him his first All-Star appearance, Justin Steele has emerged as a dark horse that no one saw coming. Steele is in his third season in the big leagues, and everything has come together for the Chicago hurler in 2023. He is 14-3 in 132 innings pitched, and those 14 wins tie him for the NL lead. Steele owns the second-best ERA in the National League, posting a 2.80. He also leads the league with a 163 ERA+ and is second in the NL with a 0.7 HR/9 ratio. Steele is a long shot, but his performance on the mounds speaks for itself as deserving of the award.
Honorable Mentions: Logan Webb, Corbin Burnes, Taijuan Walker, Clayton Kershaw
Main Photo Credits: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
