Roy Halladay and Four Other NL Cy Young Candidates in Race for Award

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As the 2010 Major League Baseball regular season begins to wind down, it is time to start to think about candidates for the annual awards.

After years of hitters dominating the league, this season has been all about the resurgence of the pitcher.  That is why this year's NL Cy Young race is filled with a lot of pitchers who have had great individual seasons.

Here are the top five candidates for the 2010 NL Cy Young award.

Roy Halladay: Philadelphia Phillies

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2010 Stats: 20-10, 241.2 IP, 2.53 ERA, and 213 Ks

Roy Halladay has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past several years and cemented his legacy even further when he pitched a perfect game this season.

Halladay is the leading candidate for NL Cy Young with a league-leading 20 wins and a sub 3.00 ERA.  It is hard to believe that any other NL pitcher can make up the distance Halladay has put between him and the other Cy Young candidates.

After this season Halladay will have Cy Young awards in both leagues.

Ubaldo Jimenez: Colorado Rockies

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2010 Stats: 19-7, 206.2 IP, 3.00 ERA, and 198 K's

With the way Ubaldo Jimenez started the season, you would have thought he was a lock for the Cy Young, but the second half of the season has been really unkind to him.

Since June 15th, Jimenez's ERA has gone from 1.15 to 3.00 in 17 starts.  He has also only won six games in that span.

What started off as a promising campaign for the NL Cy Young and one of the best starts in MLB history has now become just a very good season.

Adam Wainwright: St. Louis Cardinals

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2010 Stats: 19-11, 224.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, and 206 K's

You could argue that Adam Wainwright has been the best pitcher over the past two seasons, which doesn't make it surprising that he is a candidate for NL Cy Young this season.

He has struggled a bit over his past few starts, but he still has a sub-3.00 ERA and a chance to win 20 games.  The biggest strike against Wainwright will be that his team is not going to be in the playoffs this season.

If the St. Louis Cardinals had made the playoffs, Wainwright would be right up there with Halladay for NL Cy Young.

Roy Oswalt: Philadelphia Phillies

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2010 Stats: 13-13, 205.2 IP, 2.80 ERA, and 189 K's

Although his record doesn't show it, Roy Oswalt has had a great year for the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.

Two things are going to hold Oswalt from being the 2010 Cy Young winner—his lack of wins and that he is pitching on the same team as Roy Halladay.

Thirteen wins will never get you the Cy Young in any season, but his other numbers deserve at least some votes for this award.

R.A. Dickey: New York Mets

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2010 Stats: 11-7, 160.1 IP, 2.92 ERA, and 95 K's

This might be the most surprising candidate for the NL Cy Young.  R.A. Dickey has had a great year, even though he only began starting games in the middle of May.

Although his numbers are very good, his lack of starts and playing for the New York Mets will all be held against Dickey when it comes to voting.

Dickey has had his best season late in his career, but as a knuckleballer he still might have another chance at winning the Cy Young in the future.