Top 5 American League Cy Young Candidates – AL Cy Young Predictions and Contenders: The American League has always been known as a power hitter’s league, but in 2011, it has been a power pitcher’s league as well. Strikeouts have been plentiful for the top arms in the AL, making the Cy Young debate particularly interesting this season. On that note, it is a perfect time to dive a little deeper into that debate as the season hits its halfway point.
1. Justin Verlander, Starting Pitcher, Detroit Tigers
I’m pretty sure that if you look up workhorse in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Verlander. He has thrown a league-leading 135.2 innings in 2011, pitching seven or more innings in 13 of his 17 starts. Along the way, he has struck out an AL-best 130 batters, and he is tied for the league lead with 11 wins. Verlander’s 2.32 ERA is the third-best mark in the AL, and he leads the league with a 0.86 WHIP and is second with a .184 opponent batting average. Not to mention the fact that he threw a no-hitter earlier this season.
Verlander’s Tigers are currently in the mix for the Central Division crown, and he has accounted for a fourth of the team’s victories thus far. His numbers are going to be spectacular. If he continues to carry the load and leads the Tigers into the playoffs, he should walk away with the award at the end of the year.
2. CC Sabathia, Starting Pitcher, New York Yankees
The New York Yankees entered the 2011 season with a very questionable starting rotation with the exception of one man – CC Sabathia. He has been every bit the anchor of the rotation the Yankees needed him to be, and Sabathia currently sits tied for the American League lead with 11 wins. More importantly, he has thrown the second-most innings in the AL for a New York team with an injured and overworked bullpen. Yes, he benefits from having support from one of the top offenses. However, the Yankess would not be leading the AL East without Sabathia.
Pitching in a very hitter-friendly ballpark hurts some of his other statistics. His 3.05 ERA is good but not great, and the same goes for his 1.21 WHIP and .251 opponent batting average. That being said, he does rank fifth with 106 strikeouts in 2011, and he has given up just five home runs all season. He will probably need to find a way to push his ERA below 3.00 to win the Cy Young, but winning 20-plus games for the top team in the toughest division will keep him in the mix for the award either way.
3. Jared Weaver, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
The former first round pick from Long Beach State is enjoying a career year in 2011, and it could end with some serious hardware. Weaver leads the American League with a 1.97 ERA, and he ranks second with a 0.93 WHIP. Throw in the fact that he also ranks in the top five in terms of innings pitched, strikeouts, and opponent batting average, and it is easy to understand why his name deserves to be in the conversation.
Weaver is currently sitting at 9-4 on the year, but lack of run support from the Angels’ offense and a shaky bullpen has already cost him several more victories. At the end of the day, those missed opportunities could come back to haunt him. With Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia on a collision course for 20-plus wins, Weaver is going to be lost in the shuffle if he finishes with 17 or 18 wins. While his numbers are impressive, they probably aren’t going to be good enough for him to overtake the Cy Young frontrunners.
4. James Shields, Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
“Big Game” James has shaken off a terrible 2010 season in a big way and now finds himself in contention for Cy Young honors. He ranks fifth in the AL in both ERA (2.45) and WHIP (0.98), and his .210 opponent batting average is the sixth-best mark. Shields also ranks second with 127 strikeouts in 2011 and has been one of the workhorses of the league. He ranks fourth in terms of innings pitched thus far, and his six complete games lead the majors.
Shields is not doubt a worthy Cy Young candidate based on those numbers, but he is probably going to be hurt by his overall record. He is just 8-5 at this point for a Tampa Bay team that has struggled at times offensively and plays in the always tough AL East. In many ways, Shields is going to likely find himself in the same boat as Jared Weaver. He is going to have to find a way to improve on his already incredible numbers to overcome a lack of wins. Doing that in a division that features the two best offensive teams in baseball isn’t going to be easy.
5. Josh Beckett, Starting Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
Beckett had a down year in 2010, but his numbers have been pretty darn impressive in 2011. In fact, no pitcher has been tougher to hit than Beckett. His .178 opponent batting average is the best in the American League, and he ranks second in both ERA (2.20) and WHIP (0.93) as well. A two-week break to rest his arm and a few blown saves from the bullpen have left his record at a very pedestrian 6-3, but as far as the major categories are concerned, Beckett has been as good as anyone.
After a shaky outing in his return from injury, Beckett’s chance at winning the Cy Young will depend on whether or not he returns to his pre-injury form and whether or not he is able to significantly add to his win total. Ultimately, Boston’s desire to keep him healthy for the playoffs could kill his chances. Unless he pitches deep into games, no decisions are going to continue to be an issue. Not to mention the fact that voters will definitely dock him points for a significantly lower inning total than the other Cy Young candidates.
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