MLB: Top 5 Cy Young Candidates in Each League

It's getting to that point in the season.  Teams are starting to make their last few trades to solidify their rosters for a playoff run.

It's also the time of awards predictions.  

The Cy Young award, is the highest individual honor a pitcher receives.  This year, there doesn't seem to be one overwhelming favorite to win the award in either league yet.

In making my predictions, I will use earned run average as the primary factor because it is indicative of a team's chances to win when that pitcher is on the mound.  Other factors will be taken into account (I didn't just put the top five ERA pitchers in each league on my list).

Here it goes...

NL #5: Jeff Karstens

Jeff Karstens is having a breakout season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  However, I have my doubts about him (and the Pirates).

Karstens currently is second in the National League with a 2.41 ERA.  He also boasts a 8-5 record.

Karstens has a lifetime ERA of 4.37.  Maybe he has figured out how to pitch at the Major League level and his past isn't indicative of his future performance.  However, the Pirates are now in a playoff race, and that adds pressure to each start.  Karstens has never been in a situation like this in Pittsburgh.  

If Karstens can handle the pressure and the Pirates make the playoffs, look for Karstens to finish higher on this list at the end of the season.

Honorable Mention: Tim Lincecum, Cliff Lee, Matt Cain, Tommy Hanson, Jaime Garcia

NL #4: Cole Hamels

Hamels is having a career year this season.  The Phillie is boasting a 2.61 ERA with a 12-6 record and leads the National League in WHIP at 0.96.  One might even say Hamels is having a better season than teammate Roy Halladay. 

Hamels has a lifetime ERA of 3.40, proof that this season is no fluke.

NL #3: Roy Halladay

Halladay is once again a favorite to win the Cy Young award.  

This year he is 12-4 with a 2.55 ERA.  It just strikes us as another excellent season for Doc Halladay.  

Halladay, as expected, leads the National League in innings pitched and complete games with six.

However, the odds of Halladay (Lee and Hamels as well) depends on the success of the other members of the Phillies pitching staff.  If Halladay, Hamels, and Lee continue to pitch this well, they may take votes (especially first place votes) from each other, making it hard for any of them to win the award.

I expect Halladay to finish in the top three regardless of how Lee and Hamels pitch.

NL #2: Clayton Kershaw

Kershaw has shined in Los Angeles this season.  Despite all the financial troubles and poor on-field performance the Dodgers have undergone, Kershaw has remained dominant.

At the beginning of the year, I picked Kershaw to win the Cy Young in the National League.  Thus far, Kershaw looks like a very deserving candidate.

Kershaw is 12-4 with a 2.72 ERA.  He also leads the National League in strikeouts with 173 in 152 innings.

NL #1: Jair Jurrjens

Jurrjens was arguably baseball's best pitcher of the first half.  The Braves ace rolled into the All Star break with a 1.87 ERA.

Since the break, he's been roughed up a bit, but regained his form against Pittsburgh yesterday.  He still has the best ERA in the National League at 2.38 and is tied for the NL lead in wins with twelve.

Some doubt Jurrjens' numbers, claiming he is just lucky and won't be able to keep up this pace.  I've watched Jurrjens over the past few seasons and I don't think he's lucky.  Jurrjens knows how to battle; how to pitch when guys are on base.  He pitches to contact and knows how to get a double play ball when needed.  It's something one can't teach - skill not luck.  

Furthermore, in 2009, Jurrjens finished the season with a 2.60 ERA and 14-10 record.  His track record has shown he is legitimate and able to put together a full season of excellent pitching.

Jair Jurrjens is my pick to win the NL Cy Young Award.

AL #5: Dan Haren

Dan Haren's successful season has been overshadowed by teammates Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana's recent no-hitter.  Don't forget about Dan Haren.

This season, Haren is 10-6 with a WHIP of 1.00 and an ERA of 3.01.  

However, Haren will find winning the award difficult if Jered Weaver continues his successful run.  Weaver could draw votes away from Haren, which could harm Haren's chances of winning the award.

Honorable Mention: James Shields, Gio Gonzalez, Scott Baker, Felix Hernandez, Alexi Ogando

AL #4: Josh Beckett

Beckett has quietly reestablished himself as the ace of the Boston Red Sox.

He's overcome the injury bug and as a result he's 9-4 with a 0.92 WHIP and 2.23 ERA.

The big question is whether Beckett can stay healthy.  If Beckett stays healthy, look for him to finish in the top 5 for the AL Cy Young.

AL #3: C.C. Sabathia

One of the best second half pitchers in the game today, C.C. Sabathia gets better as the season progress.  This year is no different.

In July, Sabathia is 4-1 with a 0.92 ERA.  (How you lose a start with a sub-one ERA is beyond me.)  This is the story with Sabathia every year, he start's a bit slow and then becomes dominant by season's end.

So far, Sabathia is 15-5 with a 2.56 ERA.  His ERA is fourth in the American League and he leads all of baseball in wins.

It's looking like another 20 win season for Sabathia.

AL #2: Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander is superhuman.  I've never seen somebody who can throw 100 miles per hour, in the ninth inning of a ball game on his 120th pitch.  He's absolutely incredible.

This year has been the best of Verlander's career.  He is 14-5 with a 2.34 ERA and he leads the American League in strikeouts with 169.  Verlander also leads the American League in innings pitched.  

Also worth mentioning, Verlander threw the second no-hitter of his career this year.

Considered to be the Cy Young and MVP favorite in the American League, Verlander will finish in the top five in Cy Young voting, regardless of how he pitches the rest of the season.  

AL #1: Jered Weaver

Weaver has the lowest ERA in all of baseball at 1.79.  That is why he's my favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award.

The average American League team scores 4.34 runs per game or 0.48 runs per inning.  Jered Weaver gives up 0.20 runs per inning.  

Say on a given night Weaver pitches seven innings, which equates to approximately 1.4 earned runs allowed.  The typical American League team scores 3.38 runs in those same seven innings.  Without picking up a bat, Weaver has effectively given his Angels a two run lead.   

Nearly every start, Weaver is supplying his team with a two run lead.  Angels have a very good chance of winning every time he's on the mound.  That is why he's my pick to win the AL Cy Young Award.