As expected, Zack Wheeler has been named one of three finalists for the National League Cy Young Award — the second time he’s earned his way onto the shortlist.
Chris Sale and Paul Skenes are the other two finalists, with the former the favorite to win the award for the first time in his career after seven straight top-six American League finishes during his tenure with the two Soxes. Sale has the edge over Wheeler in ERA (2.38 to 2.57), strikeouts per nine innings (11.4 to 10.1), walks per nine (2.0 to 2.3), bWAR (6.2 to 6.1) and fWAR (6.4 to 5.4).
Wheeler, though, has a case of his own, and it’s largely in volume. He made three more starts than Sale (32 to 29), was one of four pitchers to throw 200 innings (he was exactly at that mark; Sale 177 2/3), bested him in WHIP (0.96 to 1.01) and led the NL with 6.3 hits per nine, with Sale allowing 7.1.
Sale closed the season even better than Wheeler did, allowing three runs in 24 September innings with the Braves winning all four of his starts in the thick of a playoff chase. He was, however, scratched for the final game of the regular season, the Braves-Mets makeup doubleheader’s second leg, which Atlanta needed to win to punch their October ticket. It did anyway, as the Mets had nothing to play for, but perhaps Sale pitching in that game — and pitching well — would have shut the door on the Cy Young race altogether and rendered the entire conversation pointless.
It may still be. In 2021, Wheeler threw a staggering 46 1/3 more innings than Corbin Burnes but lost the race because his ERA was about one-third of a run higher. It wouldn’t be so egregious this time; Sale had quite the season. But Wheeler, again, at least has a case. We’ll find out Nov. 20 whether it’s convincing enough.
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