Breakdown of AL Cy Young candidates

MLB’s awards season begins after learning the winner of the New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Series.

Here’s a breakdown of the candidates for the AL Cy Young in November, from least likely to most likely to win. Per DraftKings As of Friday, these are the top candidates.

RHP Corbin Burnes | Baltimore Orioles

Season: burns came to Baltimore in an offseason trade with a Cy Young Award and three additional top-eight finishes during a dominant four-year stint with the Milwaukee Brewers. His first season in the American League did not disappoint. Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA (fourth in the AL). The Orioles made the playoffs for the second straight season, and Burnes was a big reason why.

His point of view: Only seven pitchers in each league have won a Cy Young. Five of those seven are already in the Hall of Fame, and the other two (Max Scherzer and Blake Snell) are still active and therefore not yet eligible. Since Burnes is only 30 years old, he could join the Cy Young club. But that probably won’t be the case this season.

LHP Cole Ragans | Kansas City Royals

Season: Unlike Burnes, who is a proven star well before 2024, Ragans has burst onto the scene to put together one of the best seasons of any AL starter. In just his third season (he spent most of 2023 as a reliever with the Texas Rangers before being traded to Kansas City), Ragans has become a formidable lefty. He went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA. According to Baseball ReferenceRagans’ Wins Above Replacement was 4.9, good for third among AL starters.

His point of view: As good as Ragans has been this season, and as good a story as his emergence has been, it’s hard to see him winning the Cy Young even if his odds on his own team (+5,000) aren’t the best.

RHP Seth Lugo | Kansas City Royals

Season: Lugo’s 5.3 WAR is ahead of Ragans and second among AL starters. The 34-year-old had the season of his life, going 16-9 with a 3 ERA. He and Ragans helped lead the Royals from 106 losses to a playoff berth in 2023.

His point of view: Lugo was the best starter in the American League this season, save one. Unfortunately for Lugo, this guy is the clear favorite.

RHP Emmanuel Class | Cleveland Guards

Season: Clase’s postseason performance (6.35 ERA in ALDS, 15.43 in ALCS) was lackluster. But Cy Young and MVP, Rookie of the Year, etc. are the rewards of the regular season. Clase had one of the best regular seasons ever as a reliever. He allowed five earned runs in 74.1 innings pitched. Absolute domination.

His point of view: The fact that despite how dominant Clase was, he was still only +2.500 shows how difficult it is for a reliever to win the Cy Young. Only nine relievers have won the Cy Young Award; The last player to win this was Eric Gagne of the Dodgers in 2003. So it’s an uphill battle, and what makes it even tougher for Clase is how good the AL’s best starter is in 2024. .

LHP Tarik Skubal | Detroit Tigers

Season: Prior to 2024, no pitcher had won the “Triple Crown” over an entire season since 2011. Skubal and Chris Sale of the NL’s Atlanta Braves accomplished that feat this season. With 18 strikeouts, 228 strikeouts and a 2.39 ERA, Skubal was the best of the best among AL starters and might have been the best anywhere in baseball.

His point of view: Skubal’s Cy Young odds are -5000. Yes, he will probably win.