Top 5 NL Cy Young Candidates

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

August 7, 2024

As the baseball season enters August, several pitchers across the National 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 hardware.

5. Robert Suarez, San Diego Padres

Similarly to Emmanuel Clase in the American League, Robert Suarez might have a decent shot at the award if he were not a relief pitcher. The only relief pitchers to win the Cy Young award are Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and Éric Gagné in 2003, who, unlike Suarez, were both closers. Despite this historical limitation, Suarez deserves his ranking due to the more than incredible season he has had out of the bullpen for the San Diego Padres. In 43 games this season, Suarez has finished 40 of them, has received 24 save credits, and has done all of this with a 1.44 ERA and .824 WHIP. While he does not have the save numbers of Clase from the Cleveland Guardians or Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals, Suarez has more than earned his recognition as the National League’s best reliever this season.

4. Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

Despite being a rookie, Paul Skenes has set the baseball world on fire. After being called up on May 11, Skenes dominated so much that he was named the All-Star game starter for the National League. He is currently 6–1 and has only given up more than two runs in a game twice. The LSU and Air Force product has also set records for his pitching speed, consistently dropping jaws with a fastball that tops out at well over 100 mph. While Skenes has only started 14 games, he averages over six innings per start and has maintained an ERA of 1.99 and a WHIP of .942. Likely, Skenes will only walk away from awards night with National League Rookie of the Year, but he deserves to be amongst the Cy Young Candidates.

3. Ranger Suárez, Philadelphia Phillies

Ranger Suárez was the early favorite amongst Cy Young Candidates, and it is clear why. During April, Suarez started five games. In those games, he allowed only three total runs across 36 innings pitched. The Phillies starter followed this stellar month up with a monster May, where he went 4–1 with a 2.32 ERA and shutouts against division rivals Miami Marlins and New York Mets. Suárez dominated early on but quickly cooled off during the dog days of summer. Currently, Suárez sits at a 10–5 record, with a career-low 2.87 ERA and 1.064 WHIP across 119 1/3 innings. While he isn’t the favorite anymore, Suárez’s ridiculously great start to the year keeps him amongst the Cy Young Candidates.

2. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

Back-to-back with another Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Zack Wheeler. Many expected Wheeler to be a favorite for the award, and for good reason. He finished second in voting in 2021, and sixth last season after an incredible postseason performance. Wheeler has now solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. While earning an All-Star nod this season, Wheeler has an 11–5 record with a 2.77 ERA and .980 WHIP. While it is not supposed to be factored into the voting, Wheeler also has a great history of postseason dominance. That will also help strengthen his case. The Phillies ace has been dominant this year, but he’ll need to take it to another gear if he wants to be successful.

1. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

From 2020 to 2022, Chris Sale only started 11 games. While the former Boston Red Sox ace returned last year, he was mediocre at best. He turned in a 6–5 record with a 4.30 ERA for one of his most forgettable seasons ever. After this disappointing return to the majors, Boston sent him to the Atlanta Braves, alongside money, for infielder Vaughn Grissom. Grissom has gone on to have just a .148 batting average across 23 games for the Red Sox. Sale has returned to his peak with the Braves. Sale leads the majors in wins (13) and winning percentage (.813). He also currently leads the National League in ERA with 2.71. Sale leads in WHIP at .951, FIP at 2.32, and ERA+ at 154. After the original ace Spencer Strider went down, Sale stepped up for the Braves. He looks poised to win his first career Cy Young award.