MLB.com names Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah early Cy Young contenders

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
May 19, 2022, 12:47 EDTUpdated: May 19, 2022, 13:17 EDT
Let the Cy Young race begin.
MLB.com released an early look at some Cy Young frontrunners in both the AL and NL and to no surprise, both Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah made the list.
The league website polled 70 MLB.com voters ” based on what has happened so far and what they expect will happen in the months to come.”
In the AL, Justin Verlander took the top spot with 30 first-place votes. No surprise as he’s been electric to start the year after missing most of 2020 and all of 2021.
Second, however, was Gausman receiving 23 first-place votes. His stuff has been nasty to start the year after joining the Jays on a five-year, $110-million deal. Safe to say he’s been worth every penny so far. He’s posted a 2.52 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and among qualified AL pitchers, his K/BB rate of 19 ranks first and is a full 12.5 points above the second place pitcher.
In third was Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes, whose AL leading 1.35 ERA earned him 11 first-place votes.
In fourth, it was The Big Man, Alek Manoah. He’s clearly being valued by the voters despite only having one first-place vote. He’s made a big leap this year showing he can be an elite starter in just his second year in the bigs. He’s posted a 1.71 ERA and a .88 WHIP this year.
Fifth, meanwhile, was Tampa Bay Rays starter Shane McLanahan, who received four first-place votes.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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