It’s not often you see a team that has had the top two in the Cy Young Award voting. It’s only happened five times by four different pairs of pitchers, but it’s definitely a possibility this season.
In our third edition of the 2024 Cy Young Award poll, a pair of teammates rank first and second in the National League, with very little difference between them. It’s a different story in the American League, where one ace continues to separate himself from the rest.
As always, MLB.com experts were asked to rank their top five Cy Young candidates in each league, based on what has happened so far and what they expect to happen the rest of the season. Pitchers received voting points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale: Five points for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote, and so on, with 41 voters participating. Here are the results.
Each statistic is after Sunday’s action.
1. Tarik Skubal, Tigres (24 first place votes)
With just six runs conceded in his last five starts, Skubal has established himself as the leading candidate to win the Young Circuit Cy Young Award after taking first place in the previous Cy Young poll. The left-hander held the Brewers to one run in 6.2 innings on Sunday to improve his ERA to 1.92 with 96 strikeouts, a 0.89 WHIP and his opponents batting .192. He is among the top three in the AL in each of these categories and leads the Majors in FIP (2.20).
2. Luis Gil, Yankees (4 first place votes)
The Dominican has shined in the absence of ace Gerrit Cole — the reigning AL Cy Young — posting a 2.04 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 75 innings. That includes a 1.07 earned run average in eight appearances since the start of May. The right-hander has allowed just 35 hits this season, holding opponents to an MLB-leading 1.37 average, 44 points less than the next qualifying pitcher.
3. Corbin Burnes, Orioles (3 first place votes)
Burnes has been one of the most consistent starters in all of baseball this season, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his 13 outings and posting a 2.26 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 79.2 innings. The right-hander has gotten into a good rhythm lately, posting a 1.41 earned run average with just one home run in his last five appearances. If Burnes is recognized in the AL, he would become just the eighth pitcher to win the award in both leagues.
4. Tanner Houck, Red Sox (1 first place vote)
One of the biggest surprises on the mound, Houck has emerged as the ace of Boston’s pitching staff and has slipped into the middle of the debate for the Cy Young Award. After posting an ERA above 5.00 last year, Houck now leads the AL in ERA (1.91) and innings (85), also ranking second in WHIP (0.92) behind Skubal.
5. Seth Lugo, Royals (1 first place vote)
After making a successful transition from the bullpen to the rotation with the Padres last year, Lugo has found another level with the Royals in 2024. The 34-year-old right-hander allowed five runs against the Guardians in his last outing, but still has ERA of 2.13 so far this season with a WHIP of 1.02 and 71 strikeouts in 84.1 innings. He gave up two runs or less in 10 of his last 12 starts.
Others who received votes: Cole Ragans (Royals), Luis Castillo (Mariners), Garrett Crochet (White Sox), Emmanuel Clase (Guardians), George Kirby (Mariners), Logan Gilbert (Mariners), Grayson Rodríguez (Orioles), Jack Flaherty (Tigers)
1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies (15 first-place votes)
The right-hander, who is still seeking his first Cy Young, is once again among the leading candidates for the award. He currently has personal bests in EFE (2.23) and WHIP (0.97) and shares first place in the National in average of his opponents (.181).
2. Ranger Suárez, Phillies (14 first-place votes)
While Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sánchez are having excellent seasons in Philadelphia’s rotation, Suárez’s performance has surpassed that of his teammates — and that of every starter in the Majors. The Venezuelan left-hander leads MLB in wins (10), EFE (1.81) and WHIP (0.85). In addition, he shares the lead in the Old Circuit in average of his opponents with .181.
3. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers (3 first-place votes)
Already 34 innings shy of his career-high 120 innings set last year, Glasnow has given Los Angeles’ revamped rotation a big boost since joining the club in an offseason trade. The right-hander has more strikeouts (116) than any other pitcher and is among the top three in the NL in WHIP (0.94) and opponent average (.183).
4. Chris Sale, Braves
After dealing with a variety of injuries from 2019 to 2023, Sale is healthy this year and at 35 years old putting together a campaign like in his best times. The left-hander leads the NL with a 2.33 FIP and an 8.36 K/BB rate (93 strikeouts, 11 walks) and shares second place with a 0.94 WHIP, marking a return to the ace level he has achieved in seven years. consecutive finishing in the top six in American League Cy Young voting from 2012 to 2018.
5. Shota Imanaga, Cubs
After a pair of shaky outings against the Brewers and White Sox, Imanaga bounced back against the Reds on Sunday, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing two runs in Chicago’s win. The rookie left-hander is third in the NL with a 1.96 ERA in 69 innings. this season, making a good transition to MLB after an excellent career in his native Japan.
Others who received votes: Max Fried (Braves), Aaron Nola (Phillies), Dominican Reynaldo López (Braves), Logan Webb (Giants), Dylan Cease (Padres), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers), Paul Skenes (Pirates; 1 vote for 1st place) , Venezuelan Robert Suárez (Padres), Cristopher Sánchez (Phillies), Mitch Keller (Pirates)
