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Justin Verlander leads AL Cy Young race at quarter pole

by Ryan Gilmore       May 24th, 2012 2:52 PM
  • Justin-Verlander-leads-AL-Cy-Young-race-at-quarter-pole
  • Credit: US PRESSWIRE

    • Justin Verlander currently leads the American League in ERA (2.15), WHIP (0.81), opponent’s batting average (.172), and strikeouts (75). He’s shown every bit as much dominance as he did during last season’s Cy Young run, and his recent one-hitter put him very close to being just the sixth pitcher in history to throw three career no-hitters. Verlander hasn’t regressed one bit from last year; he’s still carrying 100mph fastballs into the late stages of games, still throwing knee-breaking curveballs, and continues to be one of the most consistent starters in baseball.

    Also in the mix for early Cy Young candidacy are the likes of Jake Peavy, Jered Weaver, Brandon Morrow, and (surprisingly enough) Yu Darvish.

    Peavy is one of the year’s best comeback stories after a tough 2011 that saw his ERA jump up to 4.92 and record finish at a pedestrian 7-7. However, the fatigue and injury that ruined his previous season doesn’t seem to be affecting him now. Peavy has a dominant line of 2.39/.204/0.91 and a 5-1 record. He won AL Pitcher of the Month in April with a 3-1 record, 1.67 ERA, and 33 strikeouts in 5 starts (all quality starts), and has also thrown two consecutive complete games and one shutout. He’s behind Verlander at the quarter mark, but Peavy’s mound work thus far makes him deserve recognition.


    Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

    Brandon Morrow has always had good stuff, but it’s taken him until this year to figure out how to use it. At 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA and a WHIP of .96 Morrow has been a force in the Jays’ rotation. He also has put up the best walk rate of his career (by far) at 2.5 per 9 innings, and has hurled two complete game shutouts. With his dangerous four-pitch repertoire (upper 90s fastball, slider, circle change and a knuckle-curveball) Morrow has the talent and now control to make a run at the Cy Young over the course of the season.

    What more is there to say about Jered Weaver? He’s been one of the best Aces in baseball the past five seasons and he’s not making this year an exception. Weaver is 6-1, with a 2.80 ERA, and a WHIP of .90. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is roughly 5:1 and he’s already thrown one no-hitter this season against the Minnesota Twins on May 2. He’s been the lone bright spot on an otherwise disappointing Angels team.


    Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

    Yu Darvish might be the most interesting early Cy Young candidate at this point. He’s trying to become the first pitcher to earn the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in the same season since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. After some early bumps, Darvish has settled in as one of the more formidable pitchers in the league, and perhaps most importantly, he’s allowed the Texas Rangers to forget CJ Wilson’s departure altogether. His 6-2 record and respectable line of 3.05/.225/1.41 along with 63 strikeouts puts him at the top end of the league statistically. Darvish was selected for Rookie of the Month in April with a record of 4-0, a 2.18 ERA and 33 strikeouts. The Japanese born hurler does have the advantage of Texas’ All-Star lineup for run support, but that shouldn’t take away the phenomenal start to his MLB career. As Darvish gets more comfortable in North America and against Major League hitting, his numbers will only improve further.

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