After we discover out the winner of the New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Collection, MLB’s award season begins.
Right here’s a breakdown of candidates for the AL Cy Younger, which will probably be awarded in November, from least to most probably to win. Per DraftKings as of Friday, these are the highest candidates.
RHP Corbin Burnes | Baltimore Orioles
His season: Burnes came to Baltimore in a trade over the offseason with one Cy Younger Award and three further top-eight finishes over a dominant four-year stretch with the Milwaukee Brewers. His first season within the American League didn’t disappoint. Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA (fourth in AL). The Orioles made the playoffs for the second straight season, and Burnes was a giant motive why.
His outlook: Solely seven pitchers have gained a Cy Younger in every league. Of these seven, 5 are already within the Corridor of Fame, and the opposite two — Max Scherzer and Blake Snell — are nonetheless energetic and thus not eligible but. Burnes is barely 30, so he may be part of that Cy Younger membership. But it surely in all probability gained’t occur this season.
LHP Cole Ragans | Kansas Metropolis Royals
His season: In contrast to Burnes, a longtime star lengthy earlier than 2024, Ragans burst on the scene to place collectively among the best seasons of any AL starter. In simply his third season — he spent a lot of 2023 as a reliever with the Texas Rangers earlier than being traded to Kansas Metropolis — Ragans grew to become a formidable lefty. He went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA. Per Baseball Reference, Ragans’ Wins Above Alternative was 4.9, third amongst AL starters.
His outlook: Pretty much as good as Ragans was this season and nearly as good a narrative as his emergence is, it’s laborious to see him successful the Cy Younger when his odds (+5,000) aren’t even the very best on his personal workforce.
RHP Seth Lugo | Kansas Metropolis Royals
His season: Lugo’s 5.3 WAR is forward of Ragans and second amongst AL starters. The 34-year-old had the season of his life, going 16-9 with a 3 ERA. He and Ragans helped the Royals go from 106 losses in 2023 to the playoffs.
His outlook: Except for one man, Lugo was the very best starter within the American League this season. Sadly for Lugo, that one man is the odds-on favourite.
RHP Emmanuel Clase | Cleveland Guardians
His season: Clase’s postseason efficiency (6.35 ERA in ALDS, 15.43 in ALCS) underwhelmed. However the Cy Younger — and MVP, Rookie of the Yr, and so on.— are regular-season honors. Clase had among the best common seasons ever for a reliever. In 74.1 innings, he allowed 5 earned runs. Absolute dominance.
His outlook: The truth that Clase remains to be simply +2,500 regardless of how dominant he was reveals how laborious it’s for a reliever to win the Cy Younger. Solely 9 relievers have gained a Cy Younger Award, with Eric Gagne of the Dodgers being the final to do it in 2003. So it’s an uphill battle, and what makes it much more tough for Clase is how good the AL’s greatest starter was in 2024.
LHP Tarik Skubal | Detroit Tigers
His season: Earlier than 2024, no pitcher had gained a “Triple Crown” over a full season since 2011. Skubal— and Chris Sale of the NL’s Atlanta Braves — every achieved that feat this season. With 18 wins, 228 strikeouts and a 2.39 ERA, Skubal was the very best of the very best amongst AL starters and should have been the very best wherever in baseball.
His outlook: Skubal’s Cy Younger odds are -5000. Yeah, he’s in all probability going to win.
