The 2024 MLB season is rapidly approaching its climax, with the competition for the Cy Young award heating up significantly. As the regular season narrows down to its final five and a half weeks, the race between pitchers is as thrilling as ever. This year, voters will have the challenging task of ranking pitchers from 1 to 5 on their ballots, but several names have already made strong cases for themselves.
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been nothing short of extraordinary. Leading the majors in both ERA and ERA+, Skubal's dominance extends to the American League, where he tops the charts in strikeouts, FIP, and strikeout rate. With a record of 14-4, Skubal has undeniably been the Tigers' ace. However, the team has struggled significantly without him, holding a 44-56 record in games where he hasn't started. Commanding the leaderboard in Baseball Reference's and FanGraphs' version of WAR, Skubal has set a new career high in innings pitched, demonstrating his endurance and reliability throughout the season. Having taken his last turn on normal rest for the year, Skubal's impact has been immeasurable for Detroit.
San Diego Padres' Seth Lugo has also been a standout. Posting 166 2/3 innings with a 14-7 record, his 3.02 ERA and 1.09 WHIP are impressive. However, Lugo's recent form has been a cause for concern, with a 5.24 ERA over his last seven starts. Similarly, Logan Gilbert of the Seattle Mariners boasts a 2.96 ERA and leads the league in WHIP at 0.88. Gilbert, second only to Lugo in innings pitched, saw his team stumble dramatically after holding a ten-game lead in June, adding a twist to the Mariners' season.
Milwaukee Brewers' Corbin Burnes remains another compelling contender. With a 12-5 record, a 3.10 ERA, and 144 strikeouts over 153 2/3 innings, Burnes has been solid. Yet, his performance this month has been shaky, with a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts, leaving questions about his consistency at the most critical juncture of the season.
Cleveland's Emmanuel Clase has perhaps the most eye-popping stats among relievers. Recording 37 saves out of 40 opportunities, Clase has been nearly untouchable with a 0.63 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. His dominance in the bullpen adds a different flavor to the Cy Young conversation, traditionally dominated by starters.
Other pitchers like Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros, with his 13-5 record, 3.20 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP over 137 2/3 innings, and Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants, leading the league with 164 2/3 innings pitched and holding an 11-8 record with a 3.17 ERA, have also been tremendously effective.
In Philadelphia, Zack Wheeler has posted stellar numbers with a 12-5 record, a sparkling 2.72 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts in 148 2/3 innings. Another noteworthy mention is Paul Skenes, who has made waves with a 7-2 record, a 2.30 ERA, and 121 strikeouts in just 98 innings, securing a robust 4.0 WAR.
Higher in strikeouts is Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds, who has racked up 162 strikeouts in 143 1/3 innings alongside his 9-4 record and a 2.83 ERA. However, Greene leads the majors in hit batsmen and is currently hindered by an elbow injury, impacting his Cy Young aspirations.
Rookie sensation Ronel Blanco turned heads with a no-hitter in his first outing. Blanco has continued his impressive form with a 9-6 record, a 2.89 ERA, and 130 strikeouts in 134 innings. Meanwhile, Reynaldo López has been quietly effective, posting a 2.06 ERA across 104 2/3 innings.
As the season draws closer to its end, the race for the Cy Young award will undoubtedly provide plenty of excitement. With so many outstanding performances, voters face a tough task in deciding who will take home this prestigious accolade. Fans of the sport can look forward to an electrifying finish, as these pitchers continue to make their cases all the way to the very last pitch.