Early Look at 2022 Cy Young Races

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Last year we had several outstanding Cy Young Award candidates hailing from the National League with Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes getting the well-deserved nod in a race that included Zack Wheeler, Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler, Brandon Woodruff, Kevin Gausman, Adam Wainwright, Julio Urías, and Jacob deGrom.

However, the American League was more like picking the prettiest pig in the poke. Robbie Ray, a relative journeyman who signed a one-year, prove-it contract, did exactly that. He proved the Blue Jays front office prescient in signing him for short money in what was for him a career year, and the best of a mediocre American League pitching lot.

In his previous six years, Ray had never even made an All-Star team but suddenly, at the age of 30, it all came together and he posted a 13-7 record with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Excellent season to be sure but there were seven other pitchers in the National League who all had better overall numbers than Ray. This is not to take away from his stellar season, but we are merely pointing out that he was in the right league at the right time.

The MLB lines for the 2022 Cy Young have not been posted but you can still find the odds of the teams favored to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy next year. Lets gaze into our crystal ball to see if we can see who the pitchers are in each league that will dazzle on the mound and beguile their opponents at the plate. Without further ado, let’s look at our top three choices in the American League to take home the hardware in 2022.

American League

1. Lance McCullers Jr. – Houston Astros
   Although McCullers is officially No. 2 in the Astros rotation behind Justin Verlander, he is likely to be the best hurler in the rotation. Verlander was out all last year with a variety of injuries culminating in Tommy John surgery. He will be trying to rebound at the ripe old age of 39 by the time the season starts. Therefore, McCullers is likely to carry the load on a talented team. Last season, the 28-year-old came in seventh in the AL voting by virtue of his 13-5 record, 3.16 ERA, and 1.22 WHIP. Early reports are that he has recovered nicely from a flexor pronator muscle strain suffered in Game 4 of the ALDS in which there he sustained no structural damage.
2. Carlos Rodon – Free Agent
   Carlos Rodon pitched a gem early in the season for the White Sox when he no-hit the Cleveland Indians but fell short of his perfect game when he hit a batter in the ninth inning. Rodon was enjoying an astonishing season until Chicago put him on the injured list with shoulder fatigue in August. When he returned, he was still good, just not great.
   Nevertheless, the 29-year-old southpaw has the chops to be the best if his body can withstand the rigors of a full MLB season. Last year he posted a 13-5 record with a 2.37 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He would be a long-shot candidate to claim a Cy Young due to his uncertain physical limitations but he was fifth in the AL Cy Young balloting last season and, assuming he signs with an American League club, he could be the pitcher to beat if he stays healthy.

National League

1. Zack Wheeler – Philadelphia Phillies
   Zack Wheeler would be a terrific spokesman for an insurance company because he’s a name you can trust. But last year he was much more than trustworthy, he was sublime. The 31-year-old righty posted a 14-10 mark on a middling Philadelphia team with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP with a 7.6 WAR. Many believed Wheeler should have been named the NL Cy Young Award winner but 10 more votes were cast for Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes.
   Wheeler’s first two seasons with the Phillies have been the best of his career and in 2021 he was the NL strikeout leader as well as a first-time All-Star. Barring injury, Wheeler will remain one of the best in the business in 2022.
2. Julio Urías – Los Angeles Dodgers
   LA has a southpaw stud in their rotation by the name of Julio Urias and he is destined to be the National League Cy Young Award winner this season. His fastball is electric, topping out at 97 miles per hour while his curveball dances like a prima ballerina until it is in the catcher’s glove.
   Last season the 25-year-old ended with a 20-3 season, the most wins in the major leagues, and posted a 2.96 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He finished eighth in the NL Cy Young voting but this year he will be the lead dog and everyone else will have to catch him. Good news for Big Blue, bad news for National League hitters.