The Exciting Race for the 2022 Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an esteemed accolade given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB). With the start of the 2022 season, fans and bettors alike are eagerly anticipating the race for this prestigious award. This year, the competition is fierce, and one can’t help but notice that the teams from New York City, the Mets, and the Yankees, have a strong presence among the top contenders.
deGrom and Scherzer Leading the NL Cy Young Race
In the National League (NL), two pitchers from the New York Mets are currently leading the odds for the Cy Young Award. Jacob deGrom, despite battling injuries in the previous year, enters the 2022 season as the overwhelming favorite with odds of +330, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. deGrom has already won this prestigious award twice, in 2018 and 2019, and was on track to potentially win it along with the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) title in 2021.
During the early part of the 2021 season, deGrom displayed exceptional skills, posting remarkable numbers. He had a 1.08 ERA over 15 starts and 92 innings before being sidelined by forearm tightness. Unfortunately, he was unable to return to the mound for the remainder of the season. Although deGrom is undoubtedly one of the most dominant pitchers in the NL, his durability remains a concern, making him a riskier choice among several other strong contenders.
A new addition to the Mets, Max Scherzer, is another prominent Cy Young contender in the NL. Scherzer, a veteran pitcher who has already clinched three Cy Young Awards in his career, finished third in the voting in 2021. With an impressive 15-4 record and a 2.46 ERA last season, split between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Scherzer has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with. He enters the 2022 season as the second-favorite with odds of +800.
Other notable NL pitchers in contention for the Cy Young Award include Corbin Burnes (+900), Walker Buehler (+950), and Zack Wheeler (+1000), who previously played for the Mets.
Cole Leads the AL Cy Young Race
In the American League (AL), New York Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole stands as the clear frontrunner to secure his first Cy Young Award with odds of +425. Despite facing scrutiny due to allegations regarding the use of foreign substances on the ball, Cole’s combination of durability, talent, and consistency makes him a highly formidable pitcher. Throughout his career, Cole has consistently ranked among the top five in Cy Young voting, thus making him a strong contender for the 2022 season.
Challenging Cole in the AL Cy Young race is Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians. Bieber, who won the award in 2020, had a shortened season in 2021 due to a shoulder injury. While Bieber is expected to recover well, similar to deGrom, concerns about his durability may impact his chances of securing the award.
Robbie Ray, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, is another noteworthy candidate with odds of +900. Ray excelled last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, but his move to the Seattle Mariners introduces an element of uncertainty. It remains to be seen whether Ray can replicate his previous success in a new environment.
Other contenders in the AL include Lucas Giolito (+1100), Sean Manaea (+1400), Dylan Cease (+1400), and Lance McCullers Jr. (+1400).
Conclusion
The race for the 2022 Cy Young Award promises to be thrilling and highly competitive. From the NL with deGrom and Scherzer at the forefront, to the AL led by Cole and Bieber, these elite pitchers will showcase their skills and fight for the ultimate recognition in the world of baseball. While it’s challenging to predict the outcome with certainty, the intense competition and the talent exhibited by these pitchers will undoubtedly make the race for the Cy Young Award one of the highlights of the 2022 MLB season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can a pitcher win the Cy Young Award multiple times?
A: Yes, pitchers can win the Cy Young Award multiple times in their careers. Jacob deGrom, for example, has already won the award twice in the NL.
Q: Has a pitcher ever won both the Cy Young Award and the MVP in the same season?
A: While it is rare, it is possible for a pitcher to win both the Cy Young Award and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the same season. Jacob deGrom came close to achieving this feat in 2021 before his season-ending injury.
Q: Can a pitcher from a losing team win the Cy Young Award?
A: Yes, a pitcher from a losing team can still win the Cy Young Award. The award is based on individual performance rather than team success. However, it is more common for pitchers on highly competitive teams to receive recognition.
Q: How are the Cy Young Award winners determined?
A: The Cy Young Award winners are determined through voting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). They vote on their top choices for the best pitcher in each league, considering various statistics and performance factors.
Q: Are there any specific pitch types or skills that tend to impress Cy Young voters?
A: Cy Young voters generally look for pitchers who display exceptional skills in areas such as strikeout rates, earned run average (ERA), innings pitched, and overall dominance on the mound. Command of different pitch types, consistency, and the ability to perform under pressure also play important roles in impressing the voters.
