Blue Jays' Ray wins AL Cy Young after career-best season

Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Robbie Ray has won the 2021 American League Cy Young Award, besting Gerrit Cole and Lance Lynn to earn the prestigious honor.

He's the fourth Blue Jays pitcher to win the award and the first since Roy Halladay in 2003.

Ray received 29 of 30 first-place votes, with Cole garnering the lone stray first-place tally. They were the only two pitchers listed on every ballot.

Ray turned in the finest season of his career after signing a one-year, $8-million deal with Toronto early last offseason. He led the majors with 248 strikeouts and also topped all Junior Circuit pitchers in ERA (2.84), starts (32), innings (193 1/3), ERA+ (154), and WHIP (1.045). The 30-year-old's 10 starts with 10 or more strikeouts were also tops among qualified AL hurlers.

The Cy Young win completes a remarkable turnaround for Ray, who led the majors in walks during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. His 6.62 ERA in 2020 was the highest for a pitcher in the season prior to them winning a Cy Young, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

Frankie Montas, Lance McCullers Jr., and Jose Berrios were among the AL pitchers who received down-ballot Cy Young votes. Liam Hendriks and Raisel Iglesias were the only AL relievers to garner support.