Power Rankings: Cy Young Race

Which Pitchers Are Leading the Cy Young Race?

Cy Young Race

We are only in the fourth week of the season but there have been more than a few starting pitchers that have stood out. There are some standard names in the Nationaly League Cy Young race, but there is nary a Cy Young winner in the AL race.

There is still a long way to go, and the names will change, but please enjoy our first installment of the Cy Young power rankings.

National League

1. Ubaldo Jimenez has already thrown a no-hitter this season and is second in MLB with his ridiculously miniscule .79 ERA. Jimenez is undefeated this season at 4-0, with a 1.05 WHIP, and is sixth in the NL with 33 K.

2. Roy Halladay’s change of address has gone as smoothly as expected, as the NL is much easier to pitch in than the AL. Doc is 4-1, with two complete games, and ninth in the NL with a 1.80 ERA. He also has a .97 WHIP and a strikeout to walk ratio of 11:1.

3. Adam Wainwright finished in second place for the 2009 NL Cy Young and will surely be in contention by the end of this season. Wainwright is 3-1, with two complete games, a .81 WHIP, and is seventh in the NL with a 1.69 ERA. He also has a K/BB ratio over 4:1 and is clearly one of the best pitchers in baseball.

4. Tim Lincecum has already won two Cy Youngs in his brief career and he is on the right track to winning his third. The Freaky Franchise is 4-0, with a 1.00 ERA, which is good for sixth in the NL, a .93 WHIP, and a K:BB ratio of over 5:1. There is no doubt Lincecum will be near the top of the NL Cy Young race by the end of the season.

5. Livan Hernandez, yup that same Livan Hernandez who should have retired ten years ago, is dominating the NL so far. Hernandez is 3-1, with the third best ERA in MLB, and has one complete game. He will probably not be in the top 50 by the end of the season, but it is fun to have Hernandez near the top for the time being.

American League

1. Francisco Liriano finally looks healthy after a few years of injuries and is 3-0, with an AL leading .93 ERA. Liriano’s ERA is actually lower than his WHIP (.97) and he is almost at a 3:1 K:BB ratio. Liriano will probably not keep up this torrid pace but he will probably have his best season as a pitcher in 2010.

2. John Danks is another newcomer to the AL Cy Young race, but it is for good reason. He is 3-0, and third in the AL with a 1.55 ERA. He has a ridiculous .86 WHIP, and has a K:BB ratio over 4:1. Danks turned down a heft extension last season, but he might be right.

3. Ricky Romero flirted with a no-hitter this season and is only 1-1 in 2010 but his peripheral numbers are outstanding. The former first rounder is sixth in the AL with a 1.80 ERA, and has a great .87 WHIP, while striking out 25 and only walking nine. Romero is a very good pitcher and will be one of the best pitchers in baseball next season.

4. Jered Weaver has taken over as the Angels ace since John Lackey left for Boston and while Lackey’s numbers have gone, Weaver’s have gone up. Jeff’s younger brother is 3-0, with a 2.53 ERA, but a very nice 1.07 WHIP, and 22 K and only nine BB. Weaver should remain near the top of the AL race by the end of the season.

5. Andy Pettitte might be thinking about retirement, but he will be back for at least another season if he keeps up this pace. Pettitte is 3-0, with a 1.29 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and a K:BB ratio of 22:9. His aging arm will likely not hold up, but Pettitte is having a great month of April.

Matt Anaya
Twitter.com/MatAnaya
Twitter.com/DugoutDoctors

Which Pitchers Are Leading the Cy Young Race? April 28, 2010 – Matt Anaya Cy Young Race We are only in the fourth week of the season but there have been more than a few starting pitchers that have stood out. There are some standard names in the Nationaly League Cy Young race, but there [...]