AL Cy Young Power Rankings: The Trevor Bauer Power Hour is here
At the end of each month, theScore's MLB editors break down the leading candidates for the MVP and Cy Young awards in the American and National Leagues. Today, we're ranking the early favorites for the 2018 AL Cy Young.
5. Corey Kluber, Indians
| IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111.2 | 2.10 | 3.06 | 0.81 | 2.8 |
While Kluber has relatively underwhelming strikeout numbers and an inflated 1.13 HR/9 this season, he'll get a bit of a pass for three reasons: He leads the majors in innings pitched, he's tied for the most wins, and he's the only qualified starter with a BB/9 below 1.00.
If the Klubot kicks it into a higher gear in the second half like he did a year ago, he could easily make a push to win consecutive Cy Youngs. In 2017, he posted a 1.79 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 110 1/3 second-half innings.
Gerrit Cole could've been listed here in Kluber's stead, but his June was more of a mixed bag.
4. Chris Sale, Red Sox
| IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | 2.56 | 2.48 | 0.93 | 3.6 |
With his dismantling of the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, Sale gets the nod ahead of Kluber. He struck out 13 over seven innings and looked untouchable.
Only Max Scherzer has posted a better K/9 than Sale's 12.63 in the majors, and to think, that's not as good as last year. The big lefty had a shaky start to June but has been lights out in four straight dating back to a loss to the Chicago White Sox in which he allowed only one run over eight innings while punching out 10.
3. Luis Severino, Yankees
| IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104.2 | 2.24 | 2.33 | 0.97 | 3.7 |
Severino allowed four home runs in his last six starts after serving up only two in his previous 10 outings. He's done well to limit the damage, not allowing more than three earned runs in a start since April, but he's also failed to get past the sixth in two of his last three.
Other than a couple so-so starts in June, however, Severino has been outstanding. He's gone eight innings twice this month and still holds a dynamite 10.58 K/9. Even if the young Yankees ace doesn't win the Cy this season, he seems destined to take home the award multiple times in the coming years.
2. Trevor Bauer, Indians
| IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | 2.44 | 2.25 | 1.09 | 3.9 |
No one has outpitched Bauer in June. Despite a 3-2 record for the month, he's put the Indians in a position to win every time he's stepped on the mound. He posted a 2.08 ERA over five starts while striking out a staggering 38.6 percent of batters he faced. His delivery is consistent, and he's making fools of opponents with both his fastball and knuckle curve.
Bauer has been trending in a positive direction for several seasons, but everything is clicking in 2018. The fact that he's continued to trim his walk and home run rates has helped him reach a career-best WAR only 16 starts into his age-27 season.
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
| IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | 1.60 | 2.50 | 0.78 | 3.8 |
The king remains king - for now. Verlander would take the AL Cy Young in a walk if the season ended today. He barely issues walks, isn't snakebitten by the long ball, has baseball's best ERA and WHIP, and is striking batters out at a career-best pace.
Like it or not, narrative plays a part, too. At 35, Verlander is reaching a new pinnacle. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a single start and has completed at least six innings in 14 straight. It seems unlikely he'll fall from his perch - though the same could've been said about Sale a year ago before Kluber's incredible summer.
Honorable mentions: Gerrit Cole (Astros), Jose Berrios (Twins), James Paxton (Mariners)
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)