2022 MLB AL CY Young Watch: July

Time Stamp: July 3, 2022 10:57 AM

The MLB CY Young award is given out to the best pitcher from each league at the end of every regular season. The American League has featured some dominant starting pitching this year. Some are familiar names and some are some names that are going to need an introduction. Let’s dive into the MLB AL CY Young Watch for the month of July.

Alek Manoah, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

W-L Record: 9-2

ERA: 2.09

Innings Pitched: 94.66

WHIP: 0.96

Strikeouts: 85

WAR: 3.1

Alek Manoah has been quite a surprise to a lot of MLB fans. Manoah is a second-year player who is still just 24 years old. He had a pretty remarkable rookie season last year, posting a 9-2 record with a 3.22 ERA in over 110 innings. This season might be even more impressive. He is striking out less hitters and allowing more hits, but his ERA, walks, and WHIP are all significantly down. He held an impressive 2.56 ERA for the month of June, striking out 44 batters in his 38.66 innings. For Manoah, he relies on a 4 pitch mix, with it mainly centered around his fastball, slider, and sinker. He throws his changeup almost exclusively to lefties. His slider has been his best pitch, allowing a .174 batting average and a .257 SLG% against.

Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros

W-L Record: 10-3

ERA: 2.03

Innings Pitched: 97.33

WHIP: 0.83

Strikeouts: 90

WAR: 2.4

Justin Verlander is one of the best pitchers in baseball, when he’s healthy. The key phrase there being “when he’s healthy.” Verlander was incredible in 2019, compiling 21 wins and just 6 losses while holding a 2.58 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. He looked to build on this in 2020. Unfortunately, his 2020 season was cut short after a right elbow injury. He made just 1 start that season. He also would miss the entire 2021 season.

Since making his return in 2022, he has been spectacular. His fastball velocity is back, matching the 95 MPH average that he had in his one 2020 start. He is tied for first in the MLB in wins and tied for second in the MLB in WHIP. He is also top 5 in ERA. With a history of dominance, it is very likely that Verlander will continue this type of season, putting him right in the middle of the CY Young race.

Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

W-L Record: 9-3

ERA: 1.74

Innings Pitched: 98.33

WHIP: 0.81

Strikeouts: 133

WAR: 2.8

Shane McClanahan is another second-year pitcher that has burst onto the scene this season. He has done so in astounding fashion. The lefty ranks in the top 2 in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP in the entire MLB. In ERA, he ranks behind Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers, who has thrown 20 less innings than him. He features a four pitch mix, with a fastball that sits at 97-98 routinely. He has cut his slider usage in half since last season, going from using it 34% of the time to only 16% of the time. This has opened the door for an increase in curveball and changeup usage. These two pitches are a main reason of his dominance, allowing batting averages in the .130 range for both pitches.

Prediction: Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

My pick for the AL CY Young is Shane McClanahan. He has been the best pitcher in the American League through the first half of the season. McClanahan has faced no shortage of competition this season either. In his last 7 starts, three of them have come against the first placed Yankees and two of them has come against the Cardinals and the Blue Jays, two teams in the top 10 of the entire league. In these five starts, McClanahan has totaled 33 innings, 41 strikeouts, and just 4 earned runs. That’s good for a 1.09 ERA in these starts against top competition. His dominance should continue through the second half of the year. Shane McClanahan is the favorite to win the CY Young and he should start the 2022 MLB All-Star game for the American League.

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