2023 MLB Awards: Top 5 AL Cy Young Award Candidates
The 2023 Major League Baseball regular season has come and passed, and soon, the winners of the sport's most prestigious awards will be announced.
The recipients of the American League and National League Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP awards will be named upon the conclusion of the World Series.
As part of our 2023 MLB award selections, here are our top five American League Cy Young Award candidates:
5) Kevin Gausman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
31 G, 31 GS, 12-9, 3.16 ERA, 185.0 IP, 134 ERA+, 2.97 FIP, 1.178 WHIP, 11.5 SO9, 4.31 SO/W, 3.4 WAR
Gausman led the American League in strikeouts in 2023, enjoying a sensational season in his second year with the Toronto Blue Jays. Two years ago, the Blue Jays signed Gausman to a five-year, $110 million deal, and he has not disappointed. This season, he was a top-5 pitcher in the AL. His contract is looking like a great investment for the Jays.
4) Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros
31 G, 31 GS, 12-11, 3.45 ERA, 198.0 IP, 122 ERA+, 3.50 FIP, 1.126 WHIP, 9.1 SO9, 3.51 SO/W, 3.1 WAR
It was a tale of two seasons for Valdez. Mr. Quality Start himself was dominant through his first 12 starts, logging a 2.16 ERA over 79.0 IP. Valdez struggled in the season's second half, however, posting a 4.64 ERA across his final 99 IP and 16 starts. Though he may not have finished the season the way he started it, the 29 year-old still had a Cy Young-caliber season overall.
3) Luis Castillo, RHP, Seattle Mariners
33 G, 33 GS, 14-9, 3.34 ERA, 197.0 IP, 121 ERA+, 3.81 FIP, 1.096 WHIP, 10.0 SO9, 3.91 SO/W, 3.4 WAR
Like Valdez, Castillo got off to a great start (2.88 ERA) over his first 22 starts, but hit a snag in the final months of the season (4.25 ERA in his last 11). Had he closed out the year on a better note, the Seattle Mariners might have made the playoffs. Despite his poor performance over the last two months of the season, Castillo put together a great season overall.
2) Sonny Gray, RHP, Minnesota Twins
32 G, 32 GS, 8-8, 2.79 ERA, 184.0 IP, 154 ERA+, 2.83 FIP, 1.147 WHIP, 9.0 SO9, 3.33 SO/W, 5.3 WAR
On his fourth different team and in his 12th Major League season, Gray continues to find success. In 2023, he posted an impressive 2.79 ERA, 154 ERA+, 2.83 FIP and 1.147 WHIP in 32 starts, helping the Minnesota Twins win the AL Central for the third time in five years.
1) Gerrit Cole, RHP, New York Yankees
33 G, 33 GS, 15-4, 2.63 ERA, 209.0 IP, 165 ERA+, 3.17 FIP, 0.981 WHIP, 9.6 SO9, 4.63 SO/W, 7.5 WAR
Cole has finished second in Cy Young Award voting twice in his career, but has yet to win the award... until now. Cole led American League pitchers in ERA, starts, shutouts, IP, ERA+, WHIP, H9 and win percentage. Expect him to soon take home the hardware for the first time in his career.
