Cy Young
AL: David Price
Stats Prediction: 19 wins, 220 innings, 2.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 225 K’s
The Red Sox are going to need their new $217 million man to be one of the league’s best pitchers if they hope to contend this season. Price has won the award before and finished as the runner-up last year. If he can help take the Red Sox from worst to first, it’ll only help his chances.
Price has plenty of history in the AL East and understands the pressures of pitching in a division loaded with deep lineups. He also owns a career 1.95 ERA covering 11 starts at Fenway Park, so it’s a good bet that he’ll find his new environment to his liking.
NL: Clayton Kershaw
Stats Prediction: 18 wins, 230 innings, 2.20 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 280 strikeouts
The most dominant pitcher on the planet should enter every season as the favorite for this award. Kershaw may have only finished third last season, but he won the award in three of the previous four seasons and won the MVP award in 2014.
Besides, it’s not as if Kershaw took a step back last season. His 2.13 ERA was still third best in the majors and he set a new career-high with 301 strikeouts to lead the league by a comfortable margin.
Next: Rookie of the Year