Breaking Down The American League Cy Young Race
Who are The Recent Winners in The American League?
Indians RHP Shane Bieber (2020)*: 8-1, 77.1 IP, 1.63 ERA, 122 K, 2.5 WAR, 278 ERA+, 0.866 WHIP, 14.2 K/9
Astros RHP Justin Verlander (2019): 21-6, 223.0 IP, 2.58 ERA, 300 K, 7.4 WAR, 179 ERA+, 0.803 WHIP, 12.1 K/9
Rays LHP Blake Snell (2018): 21-5, 180.2 IP, 1.89 ERA, 221 K, 7.1 WAR, 217 ERA+, 0.974 WHIP, 11.0 K/9
Indians RHP Corey Kluber (2017): 18-4, 203.2 IP, 2.25 ERA, 265 K, 7.9 WAR, 202 ERA+, 0.869 WHIP, 11.7 K/9
Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello (2016): 22-4, 223.0 IP, 3.15 ERA, 189 K, 4.7 WAR, 142 ERA+, 1.009 WHIP, 7.6 K/9
Understanding Advanced Stats Used for Major League Pitchers:
What is WAR?
Wins Above Replacement measures a players value in all facets of the game by deciphering how many more wins he’s worth than a replacement level at the same position.
WHIP - Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched
1.00 WHIP = Amazing
1.10 WHIP = Great
1.20 WHIP = Above Average
1.30 WHIP = Average
ERA+ Definition: A player’s ERA that is normalized across the league. Accounts external factors like ballparks pitched in & opponents.
ERA+ Above 100 = Pitching performance better than average
100 ERA+ = League Average
ERA+ Below 100 = Pitching performance below the league average
Who Are The 2021 AL Cy Young Candidates?
2021 Stats
Record: 14-6
Innings Pitched: 155.0 (4th in AL)
ERA: 2.73 (2nd in AL)
Strikeouts: 217 (1st in AL)
WAR: 5.6 (2nd in AL)
ERA+: 156 (2nd in AL)
WHIP: 0.968 (T1 in AL)
K/9: 12.5 (2nd in AL)
2021 Stats
Record: 11-5
Innings Pitched: 166.0
ERA: 2.60 (1st in AL)
Strikeouts: 212 (2nd in AL)
WAR: 6.8 (1st in AL)
ERA+: 171 (1st in AL)
WHIP: 0.994 (T1 in AL)
K/9: 12.4 (3rd in AL)
The Once “Favorites” to Win
Chicago White Sox RHP Lance Lynn
10-4, 135.2 IP, 2.59 ERA, 152 K, 4.4 WAR, 164 ERA+, 1.076 WHIP, 10.1 K/9
Chicago White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon
11-5, 119.2 IP, 2.41 ERA, 168 K, 4.2 WAR, 177 ERA+, 0.978, 12.6 K/9
Why Lynn or Rodon Won’t Win
Both White Sox Pitchers have pitched/appeared in less games than Gerrit Cole (25) and Robbie Ray (27) due to injuries. Their numbers at first glance will definitely get votes come the end of the season but it will be incredibly hard for either to win. Robbie Ray is amidst a resurgent year with Toronto, showing flashes of what Arizona thought they had before trading him in 2020. Gerrit Cole is into his first full year with the Yankees after a pandemic shortened his NYY homecoming in 2020 after inking a MASSIVE 9 Year - $324M Contract after a career year with Houston in 2019.