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There have been enough games this season to gauge the top contenders to win the top awards. Few pitchers have distanced themselves from the rest and emerged as the ones who win their league's Cy Young Award this season.
Here's looking at the five frontrunners for the pitching award.
#5. Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes will end with the least number of innings among everyone on this list. Yet even in his short span, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie has been beyond impressive. In 92.0 innings pitched so far, Skenes has a 2.25 ERA with 115 strikeouts and just 20 walks. If he can continue his form, his stocks will go up to make him the clear favorite.
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#4. Corbin Burnes
American League All-Star starter Corbin Burnes has been the Orioles' ace in his first year in Baltimore. In 149.2 innings, Burnes has a 12-4 record with a 2.71 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
These numbers are only expected to get better as the O's push for the top spot of the AL East. If Burnes wins, he will become only the eighth pitcher to win the Cy Young in both leagues, having previously won the award in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
#3. Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler has easily been one of the top three pitchers in the National League ever since he joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020. After finishing second to Burnes in 2021 and sixth last year, Wheeler is again a contender this year with an 11-5 record and a 2.78 ERA so far.
#2. Tarik Skubal
Despite the Detroit Tigers' bad run this season, Tarik Skubal remains the favorite to take home the American League Cy Young Award. There were several contender teams who wanted to sign his services for the rest of the season, but the Tigers refused the trade. Skubal is the MLB leader in strikeouts with 180 and has a 14-4 record with a 2.53 ERA.
#1. Chris Sale
Like Skubal, the Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale remains the top player to take home the National League honors. The now eight-time All-Star has compiled a 13-3 record with a 2.61 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 134.2 innings.
Braves fans might have questions about his durability toward the tail end of the season as Sale hasn't pitched more than 110 innings in any of his past five seasons.
