I can count three pitchers in the National League who I would have considered to be top candidates to win the Cy Young before the season started. I would love to be able to tell you I saw Mets starter Matt Harvey coming before the season started, but I checked some pre-season fantasy rankings for starting pitchers, and every place I checked had Harvey ranked below Dan Haren, so his hot start has caught a lot of people by surprise.
My pre-season pick to win the NL Cy Young was Stephen Strasburg, but he has been off to a rocky start. His ERA is a solid 3.13, and his 1-4 win-loss record is really more due to his terrible run support than poor performance. Strasburg’s problem so far this year has been his command, which has been downright awful at times. His incredible repertoire and movement gets him out of jams when he’s struggling, but he has single-handedly lost at least two games for the Nationals this year due to terrible pitches in important situations.
He also has been dealing with tightness in his forearm, and Washington manager Davey Johnson has even said to the press recently he can tell there is something not right with him. Hopefully, Strasburg doesn’t have any serious injury problems, he can get his command under control, and he can become the top of the league starting pitcher everyone has been waiting for over the last three seasons.
The most consistent top of the line starting pitcher in the National League over the past few seasons has been Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. Kershaw won the Cy Young award in 2011, and likely would have won last year as well if R.A. Dickey didn’t rack up so many wins. Kershaw is off to another great start with a 3-2 record, 1.73 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and he has already racked up 47 strikeouts in only six starts. In half of his starts already he hasn’t given up any runs, including a complete game shutout against the defending champions and division rival San Francisco Giants on opening night. The bottom line is that Kershaw is consistently the best pitcher in baseball, and should have no problem contending for the NL Cy Young award all season.
Giants ace Matt Cain started off the season pitching a gem against Kershaw going six innings, and allowing no runs and only four hits. That night would be the end of Cain’s successes so far in 2013. Cain has taken over as the ace of an incredible pitching staff over the last few seasons, but so far this year he has been roughed up by opposing hitters. Since his Opening Night performance, he has built up a 6.49 ERA, and has already given up nine homeruns in only six starts. Worse than his 0-2 record, is the fact that the Giants have gone 1-5 in his six starts. The Giants have still managed to stay up near the top of the NL West, in part due to the hot starts of other starting pitchers Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito, but the Giants need Cain to return to his usual form to contend all season long, and for him to have any shot of winning the NL Cy Young award this season.
Out of this trio, I definitely like Kershaw as the favorite for the NL Cy Young. Harvey may be the leader so far out of anyone in the National League, and I wouldn’t count out any of the Braves or Phillies top starters just yet either. Once again, this should be an excellent year of starting pitching from the usual suspects in the National League.