Top 5 AL Cy Young Candidates

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August 2, 2024

The Race Amongst AL Cy Young Award Candidates Is Heating Up

As MLB enters August, several pitchers across the American League have distanced themselves from the pack and made it clear that they are the best at their position. For this incredible display of talent, they are among the contenders for the Cy Young Award. While there were many projections at the beginning of the season regarding who would be in contention, fans and voters now have a much clearer idea of who may hear their name called for the award. Below are the top five Cy Young Award candidates, based on how likely they will walk away with the award.

5. Tanner Houck, Boston Red Sox

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The Boston Red Sox have been one of MLB’s biggest surprises in terms of success, largely due to the play of their ace, Tanner Houck. While Houck’s record may show a disappointing 8-7, Houck ranks amongst the best in the American League with a 2.79 ERA. More impressively, despite being amongst the league leaders in innings thrown with 129, Houck has only given up six home runs all year. Houck’s consistent play has been a catalyst for the Red Sox bats, who have been hot lately and are pushing for a wild-card spot. If the Red Sox continue to win and make a playoff push while Houck continues his more than consistent play, there is a chance that Houck could make a case for himself as one of the Cy Young Award candidates.

4. Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians

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Besides Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and Éric Gagné in 2003, no true relief pitcher has ever won the Cy Young Award. If not for that, Emmanuel Clase might be closer to the bottom of this countdown. The Cleveland Guardian has been one of the best closers in MLB the past few seasons, and this might be his best season yet. Clase leads the league in saves with 33, games finished with 46, and boasts an incredible .072 ERA, which displays his ability to shut a game down. Cleveland currently sits atop the AL Central primarily due to the consistency of Clase, who has only one loss on the season. This, coupled with a WHIP sitting at 0.636 tells you that Clase has been dominant all season and deserves to be in contention for the AL Cy Young Award.

3. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

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After a spectacular season last year, many expected Tarik Skubal to be the favorite to win the Cy Young Award coming into the 2024 season. With all these expectations on him, Skubal has more than lived up to the hype. The Detroit Tigers product leads MLB with a 12-3 record and a 2.35 ERA. Skubal has been dominant when he pitches, but unfortunately, the rest of his team can’t say the same. Despite having the pitcher with the best winning percentage in MLB, the Tigers sit seven games below a .500 record and look unlikely to make any form of run to the postseason. While it’s been an incredible season for Skubal, the voters generally prefer Cy Young Award candidates who come from playoff teams.

2. Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals

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Seth Lugo started his career as primarily a relief pitcher with the New York Mets but made the switch to starting pitcher and has never looked back. This year for the Kansas City Royals, Lugo leads the MLB with 13 wins, 23 games started, 150 1/3 innings thrown, and 597 batters faced. The Royals ace has been an old-fashioned innings eater, which is rare in an era based on the conservation of arms and strategic usage of pitchers. Lugo has shocked the baseball world, with few expecting him to be as good as he has been and a genuine candidate for the 2024 AL Cy Young Award. Given that the Royals sit at 62-49 with a likely playoff birth within reach, Lugo could be a finalist for the award when the time comes.

1. Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles

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After winning 101 games in 2023, the Baltimore Orioles decided they needed to get an ace. With Corbin Burnes, they got one. Burnes joined a loaded Orioles roster bolstered with young talent throughout yet missing a true veteran ace to lead the way. While not leading in any singular stat like the previous names, Burnes has been consistently excellent all year. The Oriole has gone 11-4, with a 2.47 ERA and a WHIP of 1.038. Burnes and the Orioles dominate on the scoreboard and on the diamond, as Baltimore currently sits atop the AL East with a playoff berth all but guaranteed. If someone else takes home the 2024 AL Cy Young Award, it’ll be because Burnes lost it, not because they won it.