AL Cy Young Power Rankings: King Felix outdueling crowded field
Every week until the end of the season, we'll take a look at the top Cy Young candidates in the American League.
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | PREV. RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felix Hernandez | Seattle Mariners | - |
Felix Hernandez's dominance on the mound hasn't just earned him consideration for the league's top pitching honor - he's making a strong push for MVP.
The 2010 AL Cy Young winner's numbers are at career-low levels; a remarkable feat in itself for one of the game's premier pitchers. His ERA (2.12), WHIP (0.92), and FIP (2.58) are the best marks of his career, and he sits second among AL pitchers in innings pitched (212) this season.
The King throws in a pitcher-friendly park but also the best division in baseball. He's undefeated against Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels, surrendering 12 earned runs in 58 1/3 innings. It's his award to lose.
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | PREV. RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Jon Lester | Oakland Athletics | - |
It's not often a team trades for a Cy Young candidate in July but that's exactly what Oakland and Detroit did at this year's deadline.
Jon Lester's case for inclusion is bolstered by an incredible run of consistency - the last time he allowed more than three earned runs in an outing was June 7, as a member of the Boston Red Sox. Since then, the lefty's thrown 16 straight quality starts.
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | PREV. RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | David Price | Detroit Tigers | - |
If Lester is the AL's most consistent pitcher, David Price is the circuit's most accurate. His strikeout-to-walk ratio sits at an impressive 243:33, and he's issued one walk or fewer in 22 of 30 starts.
Price has scuffled a bit of late, allowing 14 earned runs over his last three starts, but the major league leader in strikeouts appears poised to strike out the most batters by a left-hander since Randy Johnson (290) in 2004.
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | PREV. RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Corey Kluber | Cleveland Indians | - |
Corey Kluber's transformation into one of the game's top arms has been among the best stories in baseball. He ranks third in the majors in strikeouts and fourth in innings pitched, helping guide a young and unsuspecting Indians rotation into playoff contention.
The 28-year-old's career year was highlighted by what might be the most dominating stretch on the mound this season. Between July 6 and Aug. 15, the right-hander posted a 1.31 ERA across eight starts, recording 10 strikeouts and one run allowed or fewer in six of those outings.
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | PREV. RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Chris Sale | Chicago White Sox | - |
Chris Sale's ranking in this list speaks more about the other candidates than it does the Chicago White Sox ace.
An elbow strain cost Sale 32 games - roughly five to seven starts - and most likely first-place votes. Otherwise, Sale has been as good as anyone in the game.
The 25-year-old lefty owns the top strikeout rate and ERA in the AL, while limiting opponents to a .202 batting average. He's recorded 19 quality starts in 23 outings, while posting 183 strikeouts to only 32 walks over 155 innings.