Now that we are a month into the 2024 MLB season and every team has played around 30 games, it is an excellent time to break out my MLB award rankings! I’ll cover the AL and NL Cy Young race every Monday and the AL and NL MVP race every Thursday. I will do a top 5 for each race with a little synopsis of each player. I’ll cover the AL and NL Rookie of the Year races on the first of each month. Enough yapping; let’s get into it!
NL Cy Young Rankings
On the Bubble: Freddy Peralta, Logan Webb, Luis Severino, Lance Lynn, Jared Jones
5. Jordan Hicks – SFG
The starter experiment is off to a hot start in San Francisco. In 6 starts, Jordan Hicks has a 1.59 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 34 innings of work. In his previous start against Pittsburgh, he struck out a career-high 9 batters. If he keeps this up, he’ll climb the rankings quickly.
4. Tyler Glasnow – LAD
Glasnow has been dominant since arriving in Los Angeles. In seven starts, he has a 2.72 ERA and 0.93 WHIP and leads the NL in strikeouts with 53 and innings pitched with 43. He does have one more start than everyone else on the list, but his production should be discounted because of that. Glasnow has looked great.
3. Dylan Cease – SDP
Cease is another pitcher who is thriving in a new environment. In six starts, he has a 2.78 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 35.2 innings of work. His stats were even better before his most recent start against the Phillies, where he gave up 5 earned runs. Regardless, I still have him at number 3.
2. Zack Wheeler – PHI
It took Wheeler 5 starts to get his first win of the season. Even though it took those 5 starts, Wheeler has been dominant. In 6 starts, he has a 1.93 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 46 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. In his last 2 starts, he’s given up 2 hits and struck out 16 batters. He is back in form.
1. Ranger Suarez – PHI
Even though Ranger Suarez’s scoreless streak ended, he has still been elite for Philadelphia. In 2024, Suarez is 5-0 with an NL-leading 1.32 ERA and 0.63 WHIP! He also has a solid 40 strikeouts in 41 innings. If the season ended today, Ranger Suarez would get my vote.
AL Cy Young Rankings
On the Bubble: Kutter Crawford, Cole Ragans, Tyler Anderson, Luis Castillo, Seth Lugo
5. Jose Berrios – TOR
Jose Berrios is off to a great start for Toronto in 2024. In six starts, Berrios has an AL-leading 1.23 ERA. Alongside his ERA, he has a 1.04 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. He has one complete game, but it was only five innings because the game was called. Regardless, Berrios has been very good for Toronto so far.
4. Ronel Blanco – HOU
Ronel Blanco has a complete game to his name. Not only was it a complete game, it was a no-hitter. Blanco has been a pleasant surprise for Houston. In 5 starts, he has a 1.65 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. Will he continue his unexpected success? Time will tell, but he is #4 on my list for now.
3. Tanner Houck – BOS
Tanner Houck is another pleasant surprise for Boston. Houck also has a complete-game shutout. In six starts, Houck has a 1.60 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. He leads the AL in FIP with a 2.04. He has looked excellent for Boston to start the season.
2. Logan Gilbert – SEA
Logan Gilbert has been fantastic for Seattle. In 6 starts, Gilbert has a 2.03 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and an AL-leading 44 strikeouts. He also leads the AL innings pitched with 40.0. Gilbert has at least 6 strikeouts in each of his starts. He is a terrific pitcher.
1. Tarik Skubal – DET
The Tarik Skubal breakout campaign is off to a great start. In 6 starts, Skubal has a 1.72 ERA, with 41 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. He leads in the AL in WHIP with 0.74. He’s struck out at least 5 batters in each game and has allowed no more than 2 walks a game. If the season ended today, I would vote for Tarik Skubal.
+ There are no comments
Add yours