The National League Cy Young race has a front-runner, but it doesn’t have a runaway. MLB.com’s latest expert rankings put Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski at No. 1 after a first half that turned heads across the sport, and the rest of the top five is packed with names that can still make this a real fight.
Misiorowski’s rise has been the loudest story in the group. The Brewers’ flamethrowing righty has paired an electric fastball with elite strikeout ability, and that combination pushed him to the top of the list. He’s been one of the most overpowering pitchers in baseball, plain and simple.
Behind him sits Cristopher Sánchez, who keeps backing up the idea that last season was no one-off. The Phillies left-hander has been one of the league’s most reliable starters, the kind of arm that gives Philadelphia a chance every time he takes the ball. Command, durability and swing-and-miss stuff have all been part of the package.
Chris Sale checks in at No. 3, and the veteran lefty is still doing what he’s always done best: making life miserable for hitters. Even deep into his career, the Braves ace remains one of the toughest outs in the league and is once again right in the Cy Young mix because he continues to miss bats at an elite rate.
The Phillies show up again at No. 4 with Zack Wheeler, giving Philadelphia two pitchers in the top five. Wheeler has delivered another excellent season despite missing the early part of it, and that’s helped give the Phillies what might be the National League’s most imposing one-two punch.
Chase Burns rounds out the list at No. 5. The Reds standout has quickly become one of the most exciting young arms in the game, leaning on premium velocity and overpowering stuff to break through as one of the season’s breakout pitchers.
With more than two months left in the regular season, this race is still wide open. Misiorowski may be sitting at the top right now, but injuries, consistency and a strong finish could still swing the award in another direction. For now, the National League Cy Young picture belongs to a group of pitchers who have all made their case in different ways, and the second half should decide which one finishes on top.
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