The Two-Horse Race For The AL Cy Young Award

One of the best things to watch during the final month of the season is who will take home the end-of-season awards. With games feeling like they matter more, strong performances could give players the boost they need to separate themselves from the rest. One award with a tight race is the American League Cy Young Award. While the field is not nearly as big as the National League, it has two very viable candidates. Both Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees and Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays have solidified themselves as the frontrunners. But why should each player take home the award, and who should win?

The Case for Cam Schlittler to Win the Award

The betting odds currently have Schlittler as the favorite to take home the award. Some sites have his odds as high as -1200 to win. But if you have watched him this season, this should come as no surprise. Through 30 starts this season, he has pitched to a 2.01 ERA in 178 2/3 innings with 220 strikeouts to 42 walks, a 0.918 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 209. He leads the majors in ERA+ and the American League in ERA. He also has 20 starts with one run or fewer allowed, a new Yankees record.

What makes this dominance even more impressive is that it is his first full season in the big leagues. Sure, he had a cup of coffee last season, starting 14 games as well as a couple of playoff games. But he had not experienced the grind of an MLB season. It’s normal for rookie/young pitchers to get fatigued or have a bad stretch as they adjust to the demands of a full season. So the fact that Schlittler avoided that and overpowered hitters all season is very impressive.

The Case for Dylan Cease to Win the Award

Although it has been a very forgettable season for the Blue Jays, Cease has been one of the few bright spots. In 27 starts this season, he has a 2.40 ERA in 161 1/3 innings with 227 strikeouts to 67 walks, a 1.041 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 184. These stats are good, but they were better a few days ago before his struggles against the Rockies. However, he leads the American League in FIP, Hits per 9, Home Runs per 9, and Strikeouts per 9. While he will need a good start or two to make everyone forget that start, it shouldn’t tank his chances.

One of the biggest things for Cease is his old-school bulldog personality. The kind of guy that will go out there and pry them off the mound. He is not afraid to go out there and pitch even with a high pitch count. He has thrown over 100 pitches in 16 of his 27 starts, one of the best marks in the majors. The most he threw was 120 back on July 25th when he threw a complete game. It is the type of performance we don’t see anymore, and it could resonate with some voters.

Final Verdict

While both of these players have had great seasons, Schlitter is by far the more deserving candidate. When you’re on pace to be the first pitcher since 1913 to have a sub-2.50 ERA and over 200 strikeouts who entered the season with fewer than 75 career innings, it’s hard not to pick him. His dominance is also a major reason the Yankees have stayed at the top of the wild card race this season. This could be the start of something special in the Bronx.