Tarik Skubal and Chris Sale, both Triple Crown winners (wins, ERA, strikeouts) in their respective leagues, were named the American League and National League Cy Young Award winners on Wednesday.
It was the first time each of them won this award.
Skubal pitched to a 2.39 ERA, while his 228 strikeouts and 18 wins (tied with Sale) were tops in all of baseball. He received all 30 first-place votes in the American League, winning the award unanimously on his 28th birthday. Seth Lugo of the Royals finished second, and Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase, who had a 0.61 ERA, finished third.
It’s not like Skubal was a middle arm long ago. In 2021, he had a 4.34 ERA in 31 appearances.
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Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal (MAGN)
Last season, in 15 starts, he showed his potential with a 2.80 ERA. However, this year, he has put it all together to be a player on a team that rose up late to make the postseason.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal hits after a double play ends the sixth inning during Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
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For sale, it was a rebound year after he made just 31 starts from 2020 to 2023 after a few years of dominance. The 35-year-old took the mound 29 times last season and dominated MLB bests in ERA (2.38) and K/9 (11.4), along with 225 strikeouts.
Sale received 26 first-place votes, while the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler, who finished second, received four more. NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes finished third. From 2012 to 2018, Sale finished no worse than sixth in the Cy Young voting, and this marks his first time winning the award.
Sale had already been named the NL Comeback Player of the Year and was named to the All-MLB first team. The Atlanta Braves acquired the remainder and cash from the Boston Red Sox ahead of the 2024 season for Vaughn Grissom, who is hitting .190 in 31 games this season. Turns out, it was a good trade for Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning on July 9, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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The MLB awards wrap up Thursday, when Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are expected to be named the AL and NL MVPs after combining for 112 home runs and 274 RBIs.
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