MLB 2010: American League Cy Young Award Preview

The year 2010 has been the year of the pitcher in Major League Baseball. It is filled with no-hitters and perfect games, from very different pitchers all throughout the league. 

Last year, Zack Greinke surprised us all by having a 3 under ERA, and earning 15 wins even with low run support. 

This year, only two pitching candidates are veterans, and one is only 24 years old (guess who it is)!

This has certainly been a surprising and exciting season thus far, and this discussion gives us another reason to love baseball.

David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

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NEW YORK - JULY 18: David Price #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees on July 18, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Who could forget the 23 year old rookie that helped the Tampa Bay Rays go to the World Series in 2008?

Now 25 year old David Price should be on the ballot for the American League Cy Young Award.

He wasn't top notch last year in his first full season, going 10-7 with an ERA over 4. 

This year though, it looks like he found his groove. We knew it would only be in a matter of time before he blossomed to his full potential, but what we didn't know that it would be this soon.

Price is currently 16-6 with a 2.92 ERA in 172.2 innings. 

Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics

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OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 08: Trevor Cahill #53 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Texas Rangers during an MLB game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 8, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

"Trevor Cahill's having one heck of a season!"

"Trevor Ca-what?"

Trevor Cahill has been under the radar this season even with his pitching excellence.

He was 10-13 with a 4.62 ERA last season, which is acceptable. He was a workhorse, starting 32 games.

This season so far with just 24 starts, Cahill is already 14-6 with an ERA of 2.82. Keep in mind that's a lower ERA than David Price. 

Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

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SEATTLE - AUGUST 05: Starter Felix Hernandez #34 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on August 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

It seems like Felix Hernandez has been around the majors for a very long time: 2010 is his 6th season already. Yet he is still only 24 years old. 

A season with an ERA of 2.49 in 238.2 innings might be the best season any pitcher could have in his career, but Hernandez might beg to differ.

He is only 10-10 thus far this year, but he has an incredible ERA of 2.38 in 211.1 innings.

Even with his lack of wins, he might win the Cy Young Award, a similar situation with Zack Greinke where both pitchers pitched phonemically, yet didn't have many wins due to a lack of runs from the offense.  

CC Sabthia, New York Yankees

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NEW YORK - AUGUST 22: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners on August 22, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

C.C. Sabathia has everything a pitcher wants: the ability to pitch well, with plenty of run support to get the wins. This formula equals success, and his stats show.

Already having 19 wins and only 5 losses, he might win more than 20 games this season. Adding to that, he has yet to lose at home this season. 

Sabathia also has a lower ERA from his last season, when he was eligible for the Cy Young award. A lower ERA to 3.02, less losses, and more wins might get C.C. his 2nd Cy Young Award in his already inpressive career. 

Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox

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BOSTON - APRIL 17: Clay Buchholz #11 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on April 17, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Red Sox hurler Clay Buchholz already has a no-hitter under his belt in his career. Add a Cy Young Award, and batters will fear him even more at the plate.

His first season with more than 16 starts, Buchholz has had a fantastic breakout year.

He is 15-5, with a league leading 2.21 ERA.

Some might think with his lowest ERA, he has the best shot at the award. But there is one thing that stands him away from that, he has only pitched 146.2 innings, the lowest amount among the pitchers in this slideshow.

This will certainly be a stressful year for the voters, as this will finish to the wire.