For a second straight season, Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal is the American League Cy Younger award winner. He beat out Garrett Crochet and Hunter Brown, the opposite two finalists.
Skubal obtained 26 of 30 first-place votes. The opposite 4 voters had him second behind Crochet, and people pitchers had been 1-2 in some order on each poll.
Skubal is the primary pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs since Jacob deGrom took the NL honors in 2018 and 2019. He’s the twenty third pitcher in MLB historical past to win the award twice.
Skubal cemented himself as one of many two finest pitchers on the planet by delivering a 2.21 earned run common throughout 31 begins. He recorded 241 strikeouts, 13 greater than he did throughout final yr’s award-winning season and gained a second straight ERA title.
The Tigers star southpaw was fourth within the AL in innings, second in strikeouts behind Crochet, and trailed solely Logan Gilbert with a 32.2% strikeout fee (minimal 100 innings). Each FanGraphs and Baseball Reference credited him probably the most Wins Above Substitute of any AL pitcher. He additionally had the bottom FIP (2.45) and SIERA (2.71). He tied Brown and Bryan Woo for second within the league with 21 high quality begins, one behind Crochet.
Will the Tigers commerce Tarik Skubal?
Skubal is headed into his remaining season of arbitration management. With no progress on a long-term extension, there’ll absolutely be groups making an attempt to pry him out of Detroit. It’s very troublesome to think about the Tigers buying and selling their ace on the heels of two consecutive playoff appearances, although. He’ll doubtless be again as A.J. Hinch’s Opening Day starter and go for a 3rd consecutive AL Cy Younger whereas making an attempt to get Detroit again to October.
It’s the primary high three end for each Crochet and Brown. The Pink Sox couldn’t have requested for extra out of Crochet in his first season in Boston. He led the AL in strikeouts and innings pitched (205 1/3) whereas pitching to a 2.59 ERA over 32 begins. This was solely Crochet’s second season as a beginning pitcher and his first logging a full starter’s workload. The White Sox had eased him again within the second half of the ’24 marketing campaign to not put an excessive amount of stress on his arm after years working in aid. He demonstrated he’s able to sustaining his stuff and ace stage over a full season with the Pink Sox, who signed him by way of the 2031 season in April.
Brown’s high three placement earned the Astros an additional decide after the primary spherical of the 2026 draft underneath the Prospect Promotion Incentive. Houston’s ace turned in a 2.43 ERA throughout 31 begins. He struck out a career-high 206 batters over 185 1/3 innings. This was Brown’s first time receiving any Cy Younger votes. He’s coming into arbitration and is underneath membership management for an additional three seasons.
Voters unanimously had Skubal and Crochet because the AL’s finest pitchers in some order. Brown was the consensus alternative for third, receiving 24 of 30 third-place votes. The opposite six third-place nods went to Max Fried. Brown and Fried appeared on all however one poll apiece. Woo completed comfortably in fifth. Carlos Rodón, Aroldis Chapman, Jacob deGrom, Trevor Rogers and Drew Rasmussen had been the opposite pitchers to obtain a minimum of one vote.
