Selecting All 30 MLB Teams' 2014 Regular-Season MVP, Cy Young
The 2014 MLB regular season officially wraps up this coming Sunday, provided there are no tie-breaking games needed this time around, and it's been another memorable season around the league.
Before we turn our attention to the upcoming postseason, let's take a moment to recognize some of the standouts of the regular season.
What follows are my picks for each team's MVP and Cy Young this season, with a top three chosen for each award. Just like with the league MVP award, pitchers were eligible to take home team honors as well, and there were a few who made it a clean sweep for their respective clubs.
It's worth noting, players were only considered for the team they are currently playing on, so you won't see David Price or Jon Lester winning team Cy Young for the Tampa Bay Rays or Boston Red Sox.
So let's kick things off in the AL East, and go from there.
Baltimore Orioles
1 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. CF Adam Jones | .283/.314/.468, 30 2B, 27 HR, 91 RBI, 86 R | 4.7 |
| 2. DH Nelson Cruz | .267/.332/.523, 32 2B, 39 HR, 106 RBI, 84 R | 4.5 |
| 3. SP Chris Tillman | 13-5, 3.26 ERA, 1.212 WHIP, 145 K, 201.1 IP | 2.3 |
This was a close one between the guy who has been the face of the franchise for the past few seasons in Adam Jones and the guy who was perhaps the best bargain in free agency on a one-year, $8 million deal in Nelson Cruz.
Jones gets the nod as the more consistent producer this season, as Cruz has fallen off in the second half (.923 OPS to .752 OPS), and he also brings more to the table defensively.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Chris Tillman | 13-5, 3.26 ERA, 1.212 WHIP, 145 K, 201.1 IP | 2.3 |
| 2. RP Zach Britton | 35-of-39 SV, 1.72 ERA, 0.900 WHIP, 7.2 K/9 | 2.1 |
| 3. SP Wei-Yin Chen | 16-5, 3.56 ERA, 1.236 WHIP, 133 K, 179.2 IP | 1.5 |
The lack of a bona fide staff ace has been pointed to as an issue for the Orioles the past few seasons, but Chris Tillman established himself as the clear leader of the rotation with the best season of his career this year.
He has already been tabbed as the starter for Game 1 of the ALDS, and he gets the nod over Zach Britton, who went from lights-out setup man to lockdown closer this season and helped shore up a bullpen that became a weapon in the second half.
Boston Red Sox
2 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. DH David Ortiz | .264/.356/.520, 27 2B, 35 HR, 104 RBI, 59 R | 3.0 |
| 2. 2B Dustin Pedroia | .278/.337/.376, 33 2B, 7 HR, 53 RBI, 72 R | 4.7 |
| 3. UT Brock Holt | .281/.331/.381, 23 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 68 R | 2.2 |
Another year, another 30-homer, 100-RBI performance for David Ortiz, who now has eight such seasons to his credit over the course of his impressive 18-year career.
The 38-year-old may have lost a step, evidenced by an .877 OPS that is one of his lowest since joining the Boston Red Sox, but he's still as dangerous as any slugger in the game.
Team Cy Young
| 1. RP Koji Uehara | 26-of-31 SV, 2.56 ERA, 0.932 WHIP, 11.2 K/9 | 1.6 |
| 2. RP Junichi Tazawa | 4-3, 16 HLD, 2.87 ERA, 1.197 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 | 0.7 |
| 3. RP Burke Badenhop | 0-3, 13 HLD, 2.33 ERA, 1.278 WHIP, 5.0 K/9 | 1.5 |
With Jon Lester, John Lackey and Jake Peavy all traded at the deadline, the field of candidates here was thin, to say the least.
That leaves Clay Buchholz (8-10, 5.31 ERA) as the only starter still on the roster with more than 20 starts to his credit, so the three spots ended up going to a trio of relievers who did a solid job protecting what few leads the team was able to take into the late innings.
New York Yankees
3 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. RP Dellin Betances | 5-0, 22 HLD, 1.42 ERA, 0.764 WHIP, 13.5 K/9 | 3.7 |
| 2. LF Brett Gardner | .258/.330/.427, 24 2B, 17 HR, 58 RBI, 85 R | 3.9 |
| 3. CF Jacoby Ellsbury | .271/.328/.419, 27 2B, 16 HR, 70 RBI, 71 R | 3.3 |
It's hard to call a non-closer reliever the most valuable player on his respective team, but where would the New York Yankees be without the emergence of Dellin Betances as perhaps the best setup man in baseball this season?
He's appeared in 69 games and thrown 89 innings on the year, striking out a whopping 133 batters to set a new franchise record for relievers and helping to ease the loss of the greatest closer in franchise history.
Team Cy Young
| 1. RP Dellin Betances | 5-0, 22 HLD, 1.42 ERA, 0.764 WHIP, 13.5 K/9 | 3.7 |
| 2. RP David Robertson | 38-of-42 SV, 2.79 ERA, 1.011 WHIP, 13.4 K/9 | 1.5 |
| 3. SP Masahiro Tanaka | 13-4, 2.47 ERA, 1.002 WHIP, 139 K, 134.2 IP | 4.1 |
This likely would have been Masahiro Tanaka by a landslide if he had stayed healthy, but we'll go ahead and make it a clean sweep for Betances.
Hard to believe the 26-year-old was labeled as a complete bust about a year ago.
.png?w=256)
Tampa Bay Rays
4 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 2B Ben Zobrist | .269/.353/.393, 32 2B, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 80 R | 4.6 |
| 2. RP Jake McGee | 18-of-22 SV, 1.92 ERA, 0.910 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 | 2.6 |
| 3. 3B Evan Longoria | .252/.320/.406, 25 2B, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 81 R | 2.8 |
Little went according to plan for the Tampa Bay Rays offensively this season, but the versatile Ben Zobrist was once again as consistent as they come in his ninth season with the team.
The 33-year-old carries a $7.5 million team option for next season, before hitting free agency the following winter, so his days in Tampa could be numbered.
Team Cy Young
| 1. RP Jake McGee | 18-of-22 SV, 1.92 ERA, 0.910 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 | 2.6 |
| 2. SP Alex Cobb | 9-8, 2.82 ERA, 1.122 WHIP, 141 K, 153.1 IP | 3.7 |
| 3. RP Brad Boxberger | 5-2, 19 HLD, 2.25 ERA, 0.813 WHIP, 14.5 K/9 | 1.9 |
The Rays shelled out a two-year, $12 million deal to sign Grant Balfour as a ninth-inning replacement for the departed Fernando Rodney, but he struggled early and was bumped in favor of longtime setup man Jake McGee.
The big left-hander was lights-out all year, and he earns the nod over Alex Cobb, who will be asked to step into the role of staff ace next year now that David Price is gone. Props to reliever Brad Boxberger as well, as he came out of nowhere to turn in a dominant season in a setup role.
Toronto Blue Jays
5 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. RF Jose Bautista | .288/.407/.533, 26 2B, 35 HR, 103 RBI, 98 R | 5.7 |
| 2. 1B Edwin Encarnacion | .269/.356/.554, 27 2B, 33 HR, 93 RBI, 72 R | 3.5 |
| 3. LF Melky Cabrera | .301/.351/.458, 35 2B, 16 HR, 73 RBI, 81 R | 3.0 |
After missing time the past two seasons due to injury, Jose Bautista finally stayed healthy this year, and he'd likely be squarely in the AL MVP conversation if the Toronto Blue Jays had managed to hold on and reached the postseason.
Perhaps more impressive are the numbers fellow slugger Edwin Encarnacion was able to put up this year, despite missing 33 games with a quad strain at midseason.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Mark Buehrle | 12-10, 3.53 ERA, 1.392 WHIP, 109 K, 194.0 IP | 3.3 |
| 2. SP R.A. Dickey | 13-12, 3.82 ERA, 1.248 WHIP, 165 K, 202.2 IP | 2.2 |
| 3. SP Marcus Stroman | 11-6, 3.77 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 107 K, 126.2 IP | 1.8 |
Veteran southpaw Mark Buehrle crashed back to Earth after starting the year 10-1 with a 2.10 ERA in his first 12 starts, but he's still been the best the Blue Jays have to offer this season.
The future looks to be bright on the mound in Toronto, though, as Marcus Stroman has shown flashes of brilliance as a rookie, and both Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris look like they should have plenty of big league success as well.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 1B Jose Abreu | .318/.384/.587, 35 2B, 35 HR, 105 RBI, 78 R | 5.4 |
| 2. SP Chris Sale | 12-4, 2.20 ERA, 0.958 WHIP, 198 K, 168.0 IP | 6.2 |
| 3. SS Alexei Ramirez | .275/.307/.411, 33 2B, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 80 R | 3.0 |
The Chicago White Sox knew Jose Abreu had plenty of power potential when they inked the Cuban defector to a six-year, $68 million deal this past offseason, but it's fair to assume that no one expected him to be this good this fast.
After winning AL Player of the Month honors in April, he just kept getting better as the season progressed, and his .318 batting average may be the most surprising stat of all. That's good for sixth in the AL, while his home run and RBI totals both rank third in the league.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Chris Sale | 12-4, 2.20 ERA, 0.958 WHIP, 198 K, 168.0 IP | 6.2 |
| 2. SP Jose Quintana | 9-10, 3.22 ERA, 1.233 WHIP, 171 K, 193.0 IP | 3.5 |
| 3. RP Jake Petricka | 14-of-18 SV, 2.75 ERA, 1.306 WHIP, 6.9 K/9 | 2.3 |
Chris Sale is right alongside Felix Hernandez and Corey Kluber for the title of best pitcher in the American League this season, as The Condor has taken another step forward in his third season in the White Sox rotation.
That five-year, $32.5 million extension the White Sox signed him to prior to the 2013 season has quickly turned into one of the best bargains in all of baseball, and as long as he stays healthy, he should remain one of the best arms in the game for the foreseeable future.
Cleveland Indians
7 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. LF Michael Brantley | .326/.384/.505, 43 2B, 20 HR, 97 RBI, 93 R | 7.0 |
| 2. SP Corey Kluber | 17-9, 2.53 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, 258 K, 227.2 IP | 6.9 |
| 3. C Yan Gomes | .283/.315/.476, 25 2B, 20 HR, 71 RBI, 60 R | 4.4 |
Speaking of brilliant contract extension decisions, you think the Cleveland Indians are happy they jumped the gun and signed Michael Brantley to a four-year, $25 million deal last offseason?
The 27-year-old has been perhaps the biggest breakout star of the season, and he's brought a consistent middle-of-the-order force to an Indians lineup that desperately needed it. Aside from the above numbers, he's also contributed 23 steals, making him one of just five 20/20 players this year.
"With Michael, one of the things we thought was a strength of his was his makeup, his demeanor, the way he carried himself, his professionalism,” general manager Chris Antonetti told Tyler Kepner of The New York Times. “Having a chance to see that firsthand, to see how prepared he is for every game, how important it is for him to work and improve, it’s been incredibly fun to watch."
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Corey Kluber | 17-9, 2.53 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, 258 K, 227.2 IP | 6.9 |
| 2. RP Cody Allen | 22-of-25 SV, 2.13 ERA, 1.079 WHIP, 11.8 K/9 | 1.8 |
| 3. SP Carlos Carrasco | 8-6, 2.64 ERA, 0.989 WHIP, 130 K, 126.1.0 IP | 3.5 |
While Brantley may be the biggest breakout star among position players, the same can be said about Corey Kluber on the mound, as he has gone from an underrated middle-of-the-rotation arm to one of the most overpowering pitchers in all of baseball.
There were certainly signs that a breakout was coming when he went 11-5 with a 3.85 ERA (3.30 FIP) and 136 strikeouts in 147.1 innings a year ago, but he's taken things to another level entirely in his age-28 season.
Tip of the hat to Carlos Carrasco, who has been a stud since joining the rotation full-time in the second half, helping lead an impressive Indians surge toward contention.
Detroit Tigers
8 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. DH Victor Martinez | .336/.407/.566, 32 2B, 31 HR, 100 RBI, 85 R | 5.1 |
| 2. 1B Miguel Cabrera | .313/.374/.520, 50 2B, 23 HR, 104 RBI, 98 R | 4.8 |
| 3. SP Max Scherzer | 17-5, 3.19 ERA, 1.166 WHIP, 243 K, 214.1 IP | 5.9 |
While most agreed that the Detroit Tigers' move to unload Prince Fielder this offseason was a good one, there were some legitimate concerns as to how well the lineup would be able to protect reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera without him.
Victor Martinez stepped into the cleanup spot behind him and proceeded to turn in the best year of his impressive career, earning him team MVP honors over the aforementioned Cabrera.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Max Scherzer | 17-5, 3.19 ERA, 1.166 WHIP, 243 K, 214.1 IP | 5.9 |
| 2. SP Rick Porcello | 15-12, 3.31 ERA, 1.209 WHIP, 123 K, 201.0 IP | 4.5 |
| 3. RP Al Albuquerque | 3-1, 17 HLD, 2.60 ERA, 1.193 WHIP, 9.9 K/9 | 1.8 |
For a rotation that was expected to again be one of the best in baseball, Max Scherzer has really been the Tigers' only reliable starter all season, and he's an easy choice here.
Rick Porcello is having the best season of his career, but he's tailed off a bit in the second half, while Anibal Sanchez has battled injury and Justin Verlander has again spent much of the season trying to regain his ace form. Props to Al Albuquerque, who has really been the only consistent arm out of what has been one of the worst bullpens in baseball.
Kansas City Royals
9 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. LF Alex Gordon | .264/.345/.430, 32 2B, 19 HR, 71 RBI, 83 R | 6.1 |
| 2. RP Greg Holland | 44-of-46 SV, 1.49 ERA, 0.928 WHIP, 13.0 K/9 | 2.4 |
| 3. RP Wade Davis | 9-2, 31 HLD, 0.90 ERA, 0.829 WHIP, 13.4 K/9 | 3.7 |
Elite defense in left field puts Alex Gordon among the AL leaders in WAR, but his offensive game is also far and away the best on the Kansas City Royals roster this season.
It was tempting just to name the relief trio of Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera the co-MVPs, as they have shortened an awful lot of games this season, so they at least deserve a mention here.
Team Cy Young
| 1. RP Greg Holland | 44-of-46 SV, 1.49 ERA, 0.928 WHIP, 13.0 K/9 | 2.4 |
| 2. RP Wade Davis | 9-2, 31 HLD, 0.90 ERA, 0.829 WHIP, 13.4 K/9 | 3.7 |
| 3. SP James Shields | 14-8, 3.18 ERA, 1.181 WHIP, 176 K, 221.0 IP | 3.2 |
For as overpowering as Craig Kimbrel is and as consistent as Huston Street has been, it's hard to argue with calling Greg Holland the best closer in baseball right now. Over the past two years, he's gone 91-of-96 on save chances with a 1.34 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 127.1 innings.
Behind him, Wade Davis has been a revelation this season, moving into a full-time relief role and thriving in the eighth inning. James Shields remains a rock atop what has been a reliable starting rotation, and he's likely headed for a big payday this offseason.
Minnesota Twins
10 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 2B Brian Dozier | .240/.345/.411, 33 2B, 21 HR, 66 RBI, 106 R | 4.9 |
| 2. 3B Trevor Plouffe | .252/.322/.419, 40 2B, 14 HR, 79 RBI, 68 R | 3.6 |
| 3. CF Danny Santana | .314/.351/.469, 24 2B, 7 HR, 40 RBI, 65 R | 3.5 |
With 21 stolen bases to go along with his 21 home runs, Brian Dozier became just the 14th different second baseman to post a 20/20 season, building off of what was a surprise performance in 2013.
The 27-year-old will be a foundation kind of player as the team welcomes an impressive wave of young talent to the big leagues over the next few seasons, led by high-ceiling prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Phil Hughes | 15-10, 3.61 ERA, 1.150 WHIP, 181 K, 201.2 IP | 3.9 |
| 2. SP Kyle Gibson | 12-11, 4.64 ERA, 1.339 WHIP, 93 K, 165.0 IP | 1.5 |
| 3. RP Casey Fien | 5-6, 26 HLD, 3.88 ERA, 1.149 WHIP, 7.3 K/9 | 0.7 |
After watching their starters post an MLB-worst 5.26 ERA in 2013, the Twins handed out the two largest free-agent contracts in team history to Ricky Nolasco (four-year, $49 million) and Phil Hughes (three-year, $24 million) this past offseason.
While Nolasco has been a disaster at 5-12 with a 5.47 ERA, Hughes has been one of the best signings of the offseason, and a 2.68 FIP that ranks fifth in the AL suggests he's pitched even better than his numbers show.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 2B Jose Altuve | .345/.380/.459, 46 2B, 7 HR, 57 RBI, 84 R | 6.0 |
| 2. SP Dallas Keuchel | 12-9, 2.92 ERA, 1.175 WHIP, 146 K, 200.0 IP | 5.1 |
| 3. DH Chris Carter | .232/.315/.503, 20 2B, 37 HR, 88 RBI, 67 R | 2.1 |
Provided he doesn't fall into a serious slump at the plate the rest of the way, it appears Jose Altuve will become the first player since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to lead his respective league in batting average, hits and stolen bases.
Altuve has already set the Houston Astros' single-season hits mark with 221 this season, surpassing the 210 tallied by Craig Biggio back in 1998, and he's played as big a role as anyone in helping the team finally take a step forward this year.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Dallas Keuchel | 12-9, 2.93 ERA, 1.175 WHIP, 146 K, 200.0 IP | 5.1 |
| 2. SP Collin McHugh | 11-9, 2.73 ERA, 1.022 WHIP, 157 K, 154.2 IP | 4.3 |
| 3. SP Scott Feldman | 8-11, 3.82 ERA, 1.302 WHIP, 101 K, 174.1 IP | 1.7 |
Were there two more out-of-nowhere stud pitchers this season than Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh?
Keuchel was 9-18 with a 5.20 ERA in his first two seasons in the majors and had to fight to earn the No. 5 starter spot this past spring, while McHugh was claimed off waivers from the Colorado Rockies after going 0-8 with an 8.94 ERA the past two years.
Los Angeles Angels
12 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. CF Mike Trout | .291/.382/.567, 39 2B, 35 HR, 110 RBI, 113 R | 8.0 |
| 2. 1B Albert Pujols | .274/.328/.472, 36 2B, 28 HR, 104 RBI, 88 R | 4.1 |
| 3. SP Garrett Richards | 13-4, 2.61 ERA, 1.038 WHIP, 164 K, 168.2 IP | 4.4 |
After finishing as the runner-up to Miguel Cabrera the past two seasons, this should finally be the year that Mike Trout takes home AL MVP honors, and he's an easy choice for the team award here.
His strikeouts are up and his batting average is down, but he still leads the AL with a 171 OPS+, 113 runs scored and 110 RBI, so it's hard to say he's having a down year. The sabermetrics crowd also loves him once again, as his 8.0 WAR is tops in all of baseball for the third straight season.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Garrett Richards | 13-4, 2.61 ERA, 1.038 WHIP, 164 K, 168.2 IP | 4.3 |
| 2. SP Jered Weaver | 18-8, 3.52 ERA, 1.191 WHIP, 164 K, 207.1 IP | 3.0 |
| 3. SP Matt Shoemaker | 16-4, 3.04 ERA, 1.074 WHIP, 124 K, 136.0 IP | 2.4 |
He hasn't pitched since suffering a season-ending knee injury Aug. 20, but Garrett Richards did enough through 26 starts prior to going down to still be the choice here.
Jered Weaver has been big as the veteran leader of a young staff, while Matt Shoemaker came out of nowhere to help fill the void left by the Richards injury. Overall, this Angels pitching staff has been far better than most expected.
Oakland Athletics
13 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 3B Josh Donaldson | .254/.341/.457, 31 2B, 28 HR, 97 RBI, 90 R | 7.2 |
| 2. C Derek Norris | .271/.362/.407, 19 2B, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 45 R | 3.0 |
| 3. SP Sonny Gray | 13-9, 3.28 ERA, 1.227 WHIP, 166 K, 203.0 IP | 2.5 |
Josh Donaldson finished fourth in AL MVP voting a year ago, and while his OPS dropped from .883 to .798 this season, he has still been the most productive hitter in the Oakland lineup.
It's his elite defense at the hot corner that really makes him a star, though, as he leads all third basemen with 20 defensive runs saved and ranks second among qualifiers with a 14.2 UZR/150, according to FanGraphs.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Sonny Gray | 13-9, 3.28 ERA, 1.227 WHIP, 166 K, 203.0 IP | 2.5 |
| 2. RP Sean Doolittle | 22-of-26 SV, 2.82 ERA, 0.725 WHIP, 12.9 K/9 | 1.1 |
| 3. SP Scott Kazmir | 14-9, 3.63 ERA, 1.184 WHIP, 159 K, 183.1 IP | 1.6 |
The A's best two pitchers right now are probably Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzija, but with both guys joining the team in July, it's hard to tab them for team Cy Young honors over someone who has been there all year.
There have been some bumps along the way, but overall, it has been a terrific first full season in the majors for Sonny Gray, especially considering he was filling the role of staff ace for much of the season. Sean Doolittle also received some serious consideration for the top spot, as he helped shore up the back of the pen when offseason addition Jim Johnson faltered.
Seattle Mariners
14 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. SP Felix Hernandez | 14-5, 2.07 ERA, 0.912 WHIP, 236 K, 226.0 IP | 7.4 |
| 2. 2B Robinson Cano | .321/.387/.463, 36 2B, 14 HR, 80 RBI, 77 R | 6.2 |
| 3. 3B Kyle Seager | .273/.340/.467, 27 2B, 25 HR, 94 RBI, 69 R | 5.7 |
Robinson Cano has made a significant impact on the Mariners offense in his first season in Seattle, and Kyle Seager has taken his game to another level. But this has been a team built on strong pitching, and Felix Hernandez is at the head of it all.
The 28-year-old is having the best season of his career, which is saying something considering he's been one of the best starters in the game for years now.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Felix Hernandez | 14-5, 2.07 ERA, 0.912 WHIP, 236 K, 226.0 IP | 7.4 |
| 2. RP Fernando Rodney | 46-of-49 SV, 2.70 ERA, 1.342 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 | 1.0 |
| 3. SP Hisashi Iwakuma | 14-9, 3.54 ERA, 1.066 WHIP, 150 K, 172.2 IP | 2.5 |
King Felix looks to be well on his way to winning the second AL Cy Young award of his career, with the first coming back in 2010 when he went 13-12 with a 2.27 ERA and 1.057 WHIP.
He's now topped the 200-inning mark for seven straight seasons, and he should still have at least a few more prime seasons considering he's still only 28 years old.
Texas Rangers
15 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 3B Adrian Beltre | .323/.386/.490, 32 2B, 18 HR, 75 RBI, 77 R | 6.6 |
| 2. SP Yu Darvish | 10-7, 3.06 ERA, 1.261 WHIP, 182 K, 144.1 IP | 3.3 |
| 3. CF Leonys Martin | .277/.330/.371, 13 2B, 7 HR, 39 RBI, 65 R | 4.8 |
Through what has been a disaster of a season for the Texas Rangers, third baseman Adrian Beltre has been the one consistent positive, as he continues to add to what should be a compelling case for Hall of Fame enshrinement once he finally does call it a career.
The 35-year-old currently has his highest batting average and on-base percentage since his monster 2004 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he's shown no signs of slowing down to this point.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Yu Darvish | 10-7, 3.06 ERA, 1.261 WHIP, 182 K, 144.1 IP | 3.3 |
| 2. SP Nick Tepesch | 5-10, 4.14 ERA, 1.332 WHIP, 54 K, 121.2 IP | 1.5 |
| 3. RP Shawn Tolleson | 3-1, 7 HLD, 2.80 ERA, 1.160 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 | 1.5 |
The Rangers have used a whopping 40 different pitchers this season, and 15 different guys have started at least one game, so it's no surprise that the field of candidates for team Cy Young was fairly sparse.
Yu Darvish was on his way to another terrific all-around season before a right elbow issue effectively ended his season Aug. 9. But he still did more than enough through 22 starts to be an easy choice here.
Atlanta Braves
16 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. LF Justin Upton | .269/.342/.484, 33 2B, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 74 R | 3.2 |
| 2. RF Jason Heyward | .272/.351/.387, 25 2B, 11 HR, 58 RBI, 71 R | 6.4 |
| 3. 1B Freddie Freeman | .290/.387/.466, 41 2B, 18 HR, 75 RBI, 91 R | 3.3 |
Thanks to his elite defense in right field, Jason Heyward currently ranks second in the NL in WAR among position players, but the choice for team MVP has to be fellow outfielder Justin Upton. Still just 27 years old, Upton finally found some level of consistency at the plate this season, and when he's hot, he is still one of the few hitters in baseball who is legitimately capable of carrying his team.
It was another strong season for first baseman Freddie Freeman as well, as he remains one of the best young players in the game.
Team Cy Young
| 1. RP Craig Kimbrel | 44-of-48 SV, 1.68 ERA, 0.898 WHIP, 13.6 K/9 | 2.2 |
| 2. SP Alex Wood | 11-10, 2.78 ERA, 1.133 WHIP, 164 K, 165.0 IP | 3.5 |
| 3. SP Julio Teheran | 13-13, 2.88 ERA, 1.065 WHIP, 180 K, 216.0 IP | 3.7 |
The Braves were forced to piece together a rotation after a myriad of injuries in the spring, and while their starting rotation was one of the best over the first few months, things slowly deteriorated from there.
Julio Teheran was their best starter in the first half, while lefty Alex Wood was their most reliable arm after the break, but the one constant has been flame-throwing closer Craig Kimbrel who again turned in a dominant all-around season.
Miami Marlins
17 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. RF Giancarlo Stanton | .288/.395/.555, 31 2B, 37 HR, 105 RBI, 89 R | 6.4 |
| 2. CF Marcell Ozuna | .269/.317/.455, 26 2B, 23 HR, 85 RBI, 72 R | 4.3 |
| 3. LF Christian Yelich | .289/.367/.410, 28 2B, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 90 R | 3.8 |
Prior to being hit in the face with a Mike Fiers fastball that effectively ended his season, it looked like Giancarlo Stanton was going to give Clayton Kershaw a serious run for his money in the NL MVP race.
As it stands, he's still an easy choice for the team honors, but it's worth noting that the Marlins outfield as a whole has been perhaps the best in all of baseball this season, and those three guys figure to anchor that offense for years to come.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Henderson Alvarez | 11-6, 2.82 ERA, 1.242 WHIP, 106 K, 172.1 IP | 3.8 |
| 2. RP Steve Cishek | 37-of-41 SV, 3.27 ERA, 1.216 WHIP, 11.5 K/9 | 0.7 |
| 3. SP Tom Koehler | 9-10, 3.76 ERA, 1.297 WHIP, 146 K, 184.1 IP | 2.6 |
Henderson Alvarez stepped into the role of staff ace after Jose Fernandez was lost for the season, and he more than held his own, turning in by far the best season of his young career.
Closer Steve Cishek also deserves mention here, as he has quietly been one of the more reliable stoppers in the league the past two seasons, converting 71 of 77 save chances with a 2.77 ERA and 10.5 K/9.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 1B Lucas Duda | .254/.354/.479, 26 2B, 28 HR, 86 RBI, 72 R | 3.8 |
| 2. CF Juan Lagares | .281/.321/.382, 24 2B, 4 HR, 47 RBI, 46 R | 5.6 |
| 3. 2B Daniel Murphy | .295/.339/.410, 35 2B, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 76 R | 2.1 |
The New York Mets had a choice to make at first base this season, and they officially committed to Lucas Duda when they shipped Ike Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates in an early-season trade. That decision proved to be the right one, as Duda turned in a career year and Davis continued to struggle in Pittsburgh.
Juan Lagares earns runner-up honors as the best defensive center fielder in the game today, with a passable offensive game to boot, while Daniel Murphy continues to be one of the better offensive second basemen in the game.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Jacob deGrom | 9-6, 2.63 ERA, 1.133 WHIP, 144 K, 140.1 IP | 3.0 |
| 2. SP Zack Wheeler | 11-10, 3.49 ERA, 1.325 WHIP, 180 K, 180.1 IP | 0.8 |
| 3. RP Jeurys Familia | 2-5, 21 HLD, 2.30 ERA, 1.224 WHIP, 8.2 K/9 | 0.8 |
NL Rookie of the Year front-runner is not something anyone would have called Jacob deGrom at the beginning of the season, as he was not even the most heralded pitching prospect on his own team.
Fast forward to September and he looks like the clear favorite to take home the award, and he's been hands down the best starter on the Mets staff since being called up. Jeurys Familia has also turned in an impressive rookie season as a setup man, and he figures to be an important arm moving forward as well.
Philadelphia Phillies
19 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. SP Cole Hamels | 9-7, 2.47 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 187 K, 189.2 IP | 6.0 |
| 2. 2B Chase Utley | .272/.341/.410, 33 2B, 11 HR, 76 RBI, 72 R | 3.5 |
| 3. CF Ben Revere | .308/.325/.366, 13 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 69 R | 0.7 |
It speaks to just how far the Philadelphia Phillies core offensive group has slipped that Cole Hamels is the clear choice for team MVP honors, but to be fair to Hamels, he has been fantastic this season.
After missing time early and pitching to a 7.02 ERA in his first three starts, Hamels has gone 9-5 with a 2.03 ERA over his last 25 starts, turning in 22 quality starts over that span and allowing more than four earned runs just once.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Cole Hamels | 9-7, 2.47 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 187 K, 189.2 IP | 6.0 |
| 2. RP Jonathan Papelbon | 37-of-41 SV, 2.10 ERA, 0.902 WHIP, 8.5 K/9 | 2.6 |
| 3. RP Ken Giles | 3-1, 11 HLD, 1.24 ERA, 0.802 WHIP, 13.0 K/9 | 1.8 |
The case for Hamels is laid out above, and he's the obvious choice for Cy Young honors as well. It will be interesting to see what the team does with him this offseason, as he would fetch a huge return via trade, but he's also perhaps the one veteran the Phillies can legitimately build around.
Jonathan Papelbon should also be on the trade market this winter after a nice bounce-back season, while 24-year-old Ken Giles may be the heir to the closer's job after a breakout rookie season.
Washington Nationals
20 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 3B Anthony Rendon | .286/.347/.471, 39 2B, 20 HR, 81 RBI, 110 R | 6.3 |
| 2. RF Jayson Werth | .288/.389/.449, 36 2B, 16 HR, 81 RBI, 81 R | 3.6 |
| 3. CF Denard Span | .298/.352/.413, 38 2B, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 93 R | 3.3 |
After showing flashes as a rookie last season, Anthony Rendon has emerged as a bona fide offensive star for the Washington Nationals this season, and he's done it while shuffling between second and third base.
His future is at the hot corner, where he could be a future Gold Glove winner, and that leaves Ryan Zimmerman's future somewhat cloudy. Jayson Werth has once again justified his hefty salary, while Denard Span has quietly been one of the better leadoff hitters in all of baseball.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Jordan Zimmermann | 13-5, 2.78 ERA, 1.117 WHIP, 172 K, 190.2 IP | 4.4 |
| 2. SP Tanner Roark | 14-10, 2.85 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, 137 K, 192.1 IP | 5.0 |
| 3. SP Stephen Strasburg | 13-11, 3.23 ERA, 1.139 WHIP, 235 K, 209.0 IP | 3.2 |
It's tough to narrow the field down to just three here, as you can certainly make a case for Doug Fister (15-6, 2.55 ERA), Tyler Clippard (72 G, 2.00 ERA, 10.6 K/9) and Drew Storen (62 G, 1.18 ERA, 7.1 K/9) being deserving of mention as well.
In the end, it's the three starters who have been doing it all year who got the nod, as Fister missed time early and has made just 24 starts on the year. A slightly lower ERA and more strikeouts earns Jordan Zimmermann the top spot over surprise stud Tanner Roark, while Stephen Strasburg has finally been pitching like an ace of late and currently leads the NL with 235 strikeouts.
Chicago Cubs
21 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 1B Anthony Rizzo | .279/.378/.516, 25 2B, 31 HR, 74 RBI, 86 R | 4.3 |
| 2. SP Jake Arrieta | 9-5, 2.65 ERA, 1.016 WHIP, 157 K, 149.2 IP | 4.9 |
| 3. SS Starlin Castro | .292/.339/.438, 33 2B, 14 HR, 65 RBI, 58 R | 2.0 |
After a disappointing 2013 season in which he hit just .233 with a .742 OPS in his first full season, Anthony Rizzo took a huge step forward this year, emerging as the star of the Chicago Cubs offense and one of the top power threats in all of baseball.
Starlin Castro also bounced back from a rough 2013 that saw him hit .245 and turn in a minus-0.6 WAR on the year, while Jake Arrieta finally turned potential into production thanks to a change of scenery and emerged as the ace of the staff.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Jake Arrieta | 9-5, 2.65 ERA, 1.016 WHIP, 157 K, 149.2 IP | 4.9 |
| 2. RP Hector Rondon | 26-of-30 SV, 2.58 ERA, 1.096 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 | 1.3 |
| 3. SP Kyle Hendricks | 7-2, 2.28 ERA, 1.080 WHIP, 43 K, 75.0 IP | 2.8 |
A top prospect in the Orioles system, Arrieta went 20-25 with a 5.46 ERA in parts of four season with Baltimore before coming to the Cubs in the Scott Feldman trade last July.
He was 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA in nine starts after the trade last year, and he's been an absolute stud this season, as his 2.30 FIP suggests that his breakout year is more than just sustainable.
Cincinnati Reds
22 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. SP Johnny Cueto | 18-9, 2.33 ERA, 0.980 WHIP, 228 K, 227.2 IP | 5.9 |
| 2. C Devin Mesoraco | .278/.362/.539, 25 2B, 24 HR, 77 RBI, 53 R | 4.9 |
| 3. 3B Todd Frazier | .276/.336/.455, 21 2B, 27 HR, 76 RBI, 82 R | 4.8 |
With the trio of Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips all turning in disappointing seasons, and first-half studs Devin Mesoraco and Todd Frazier falling off after the break, ace Johnny Cueto walks away with team MVP honors.
After an injury-plagued season in 2013, Cueto has been brilliant this year, as he leads the NL in innings pitched and batting average against (.193) and ranks second to Clayton Kershaw in a slew of other categories.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Johnny Cueto | 18-9, 2.33 ERA, 0.980 WHIP, 228 K, 227.2 IP | 5.9 |
| 2. SP Alfredo Simon | 15-10, 3.34 ERA, 1.202 WHIP, 123 K, 191.1 IP | 2.3 |
| 3. RP Aroldis Chapman | 33-of-35 SV, 2.16 ERA, 0.860 WHIP, 17.5 K/9 | 1.6 |
It will be interesting to see how the Cincinnati Reds handle their starting rotation this offseason, as they have some big decisions to make in the very near future.
Homer Bailey is locked up long-term, and they have a pair of promising young arms in Tony Cingrani and Robert Stephenson ready to step in, with Cueto, Mike Leake, Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon all set to hit free agency at the end of next season. Expect at least one of those guys to be moved this offseason.
Milwaukee Brewers
23 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. C Jonathan Lucroy | .303/.372/.472, 52 2B, 13 HR, 68 RBI, 72 R | 6.4 |
| 2. CF Carlos Gomez | .281/.351/.466, 32 2B, 21 HR, 69 RBI, 91 R | 4.4 |
| 3. RF Ryan Braun | .273/.327/.466, 29 2B, 19 HR, 81 RBI, 68 R | 1.2 |
Were it not for the Milwaukee Brewers' late-season collapse, Jonathan Lucroy would have been one of the NL MVP front-runners, but at least he has received some overdue recognition this season.
On top of his offensive contributions, which include the first 50-double season ever by a catcher, he has also been one of the best defensive catchers in the game this season with 10 defensive runs saved and a 1.8 dWAR.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Yovani Gallardo | 8-10, 3.46 ERA, 1.270 WHIP, 142 K, 187.1 IP | 2.6 |
| 2. SP Wily Peralta | 16-11, 3.62 ERA, 1.320 WHIP, 141 K, 191.2 IP | 2.2 |
| 3. RP Francisco Rodriguez | 43-of-48 SV, 3.09 ERA, 0.985 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 | 1.3 |
The Brewers rotation was perhaps the team's biggest strength during its first-half dominance of the NL Central, and the Brewers' struggles since Aug. 1 are also a big reason why the team was unable to hold on and reach the postseason.
That said, the duo of Yovani Gallardo and Wily Peralta have still enjoyed impressive all-around seasons, with Gallardo edging Peralta out for team Cy Young honors thanks to a better ERA and WHIP. Closer Francisco Rodriguez comes in third; he's enjoyed a career renaissance in Milwaukee the past two seasons and was a steal on a one-year, $3.25 million deal.
Pittsburgh Pirates
24 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. CF Andrew McCutchen | .310/.404/.537, 36 2B, 24 HR, 76 RBI, 83 R | 6.1 |
| 2. UT Josh Harrison | .318/.349/.498, 36 2B, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 72 R | 5.3 |
| 3. C Russell Martin | .297/.409/.441, 20 2B, 11 HR, 67 RBI, 45 R | 5.3 |
A legitimate case can be made for each of the three candidates listed above being the MVP of the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, but we'll go with reigning NL MVP Andrew McCutchen.
McCutchen has again led the way in most offensive categories and been the face of the team. Meanwhile, Josh Harrison has brought invaluable versatility and could still win the batting title, and Russell Martin has picked up his offensive game this season on top of his elite defense behind the plate and stellar job handling the staff.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Francisco Liriano | 7-10, 3.32 ERA, 1.278 WHIP, 170 K, 157.1 IP | 1.4 |
| 2. RP Tony Watson | 10-1, 33 HLD, 1.46 ERA, 1.014 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 | 2.6 |
| 3. RP Mark Melancon | 32-of-36 SV, 1.93 ERA, 0.886 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 | 2.2 |
The numbers may not look all that pretty at first glance, but Francisco Liriano has pitched as well as anyone in the game since the All-Star break, going 6-3 with a 2.00 ERA in 13 second-half starts.
That's enough for him to edge out All-Star setup man Tony Watson, who has managed to win an impressive 10 games out of the pen on top of his stellar all-around numbers. Closer Mark Melancon has also been rock solid since taking over for a struggling Jason Grilli.
St. Louis Cardinals
25 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. SS Jhonny Peralta | .261/.337/.445, 37 2B, 21 HR, 71 RBI, 61 R | 5.9 |
| 2. SP Adam Wainwright | 20-9, 2.38 ERA, 1.031 WHIP, 179 K, 227.0 IP | 6.0 |
| 3. LF Matt Holliday | .275/.372/.440, 36 2B, 19 HR, 88 RBI, 82 R | 3.3 |
The St. Louis Cardinals knew they were getting an offensive boost at the shortstop position when they signed Jhonny Peralta to a four-year, $53 million deal this past offseason, and he has certainly delivered at the plate. It's been his defense that has been a surprise.
His 18 DRS are currently third among all shortstops, while his 13.0 UZR/150 is good for fourth, according to FanGraphs. This from a guy some teams preferred as a third baseman or outfielder when kicking the tires on him in free agency this past winter.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Adam Wainwright | 20-9, 2.38 ERA, 1.031 WHIP, 179 K, 227.0 IP | 6.0 |
| 2. SP Lance Lynn | 15-10, 2.73 ERA, 1.250 WHIP, 176 K, 197.2 IP | 3.5 |
| 3. RP Pat Neshek | 7-1, 25 HLD, 1.39 ERA, 0.696 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 | 2.7 |
It's been another terrific season for Adam Wainwright, who picked up his 20th win of the season last time out against the Chicago Cubs on Monday. He's putting up the best numbers of his career this year, and those numbers would be even better if not for a rough month of August where he was 2-4 with a 5.17 ERA.
Pat Neshek deserves mention here as well. He made the team as a non-roster invitee and quickly became the team's most reliable setup man. He was the unlikeliest of All-Stars this season and has been an absolute steal at $1 million.
Arizona Diamondbacks
26 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 1B Paul Goldschmidt | .300/.396/.542, 39 2B, 19 HR, 69 RBI, 75 R | 4.5 |
| 2. SP Josh Collmenter | 11-8, 3.57 ERA, 1.161 WHIP, 112 K, 171.1 IP | 2.2 |
| 3. C Miguel Montero | .246/.333/.376, 23 2B, 13 HR, 71 RBI, 39 R | 1.0 |
Paul Goldschmidt suffered a season-ending injury Aug. 1 when he fractured his left hand on a hit-by-pitch, but he's still an easy choice for MVP on an Arizona Diamondbacks team that may very well be headed for the worst record in baseball this season.
It will be interesting to see how this team retools in the offseason, with Tony La Russa now pulling the strings in the front office as Chief Baseball Officer.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Josh Collmenter | 11-8, 3.57 ERA, 1.161 WHIP, 112 K, 171.1 IP | 2.2 |
| 2. SP Wade Miley | 8-12, 4.35 ERA, 1.390 WHIP, 177 K, 196.1 IP | 0.9 |
| 3. RP Brad Ziegler | 5-3, 29 HLD, 3.49 ERA, 1.254 WHIP, 7.3 K/9 | 0.4 |
With Patrick Corbin lost for the season before it even started and Wade Miley battling through a down year, Josh Collmenter has emerged as the surprise ace of the Diamondbacks staff here in the second half of the season.
The 28-year-old has gone 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in his last six starts, lowering his ERA from 4.31 to 3.57 in the process and making him an easy choice for team Cy Young honors.
Colorado Rockies
27 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. 1B Justin Morneau | .320/.363/.495, 32 2B, 16 HR, 79 RBI, 60 R | 2.9 |
| 2. SS Troy Tulowitzki | .340/.432/.603, 18 2B, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 71 R | 5.5 |
| 3. 3B Nolan Arenado | .287/.328/.500, 34 2B, 18 HR, 61 RBI, 58 R | 4.0 |
With Troy Tulowitzki lost for the season July 20 to a hip injury and Nolan Arenado missing 37 games with a fractured finger, the choice for Colorado Rockies MVP is veteran first baseman Justin Morneau.
The 33-year-old was signed to a two-year, $12.5 million deal last offseason to replace Todd Helton, and he is currently leading the NL batting race with his .320 average, putting him just ahead of Josh Harrison (.318) in what will be a battle to the end.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Jorge De La Rosa | 14-11, 4.14 ERA, 1.217 WHIP, 132 K, 178.1 IP | 2.3 |
| 2. RP LaTroy Hawkins | 22-of-25 SV, 3.44 ERA, 1.223 WHIP, 5.5 K/9 | 0.7 |
| 3. SP Tyler Matzek | 6-11, 4.05 ERA, 1.394 WHIP, 91 K, 117.2 IP | 1.9 |
Jorge De La Rosa is one of the few pitchers over the years who has managed to find consistent success pitching in Coors Field, and he has turned in another solid all-around season this year, earning a two-year, $25 million extension at the beginning of the month.
LaTroy Hawkins proved to be a nice bargain pickup on a one-year, $2.5 million deal that includes a $2.25 million option for next season. Former top prospect Tyler Matzek has also shown flashes here in the second half, making him a potential breakout candidate heading into 2015.
Los Angeles Dodgers
28 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. SP Clayton Kershaw | 20-3, 1.80 ERA, 0.856 WHIP, 228 K, 190.1 IP | 7.3 |
| 2. 1B Adrian Gonzalez | .277/.335/.476, 40 2B, 25 HR, 112 RBI, 79 R | 3.5 |
| 3. RF Yasiel Puig | .298/.385/.483, 37 2B, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 88 R | 4.9 |
The word "historic" is one that maybe gets thrown around a bit too often, but it's fair to say that Clayton Kershaw is enjoying a historic season for the Los Angeles Dodgers here in 2014.
It's almost impossible to believe that the left-hander is still just 26 years old—and as this season showed, he's still getting better. This is the best season Kershaw has turned in to this point, but it may not be his peak season, as he is just entering the prime of his career.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Clayton Kershaw | 20-3, 1.80 ERA, 0.856 WHIP, 228 K, 190.1 IP | 7.3 |
| 2. SP Zack Greinke | 15-8, 2.76 ERA, 1.173 WHIP, 196 K, 189.1 IP | 4.0 |
| 3. SP Hyun-Jin Ryu | 14-7, 3.38 ERA, 1.191 WHIP, 139 K, 152.0 IP | 2.1 |
Provided nothing crazy happens in his final start Wednesday night, Kershaw is on his way to a fourth consecutive ERA title and the third Cy Young Award of his career, all before his 27th birthday.
Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu continue to be as good as any team could ask for out of its No. 2 and No. 3 starter spots, and they would be fronting a lot of rotations around the league. They will need to back up their strong regular-season performances come October, though, as the Dodgers eye their first World Series trip since 1988.
San Diego Padres
29 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. SP Tyson Ross | 13-14, 2.81 ERA, 1.211 WHIP, 195 K, 195.2 IP | 2.4 |
| 2. LF Seth Smith | .266/.370/.444, 30 2B, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 54 R | 4.0 |
| 3. SP Ian Kennedy | 12-13, 3.76 ERA, 1.304 WHIP, 201 K, 194.0 IP | 1.1 |
With an offense that sits dead last in the majors in runs scored and a pitching staff that ranks second with a team ERA of 3.22, it should come as no surprise that a pitcher walks away with MVP honors for the San Diego Padres.
Tyson Ross was a deserving first-time All-Star this year, and he's kept things going with a strong second half, as he currently ranks ninth in the NL in ERA and seventh in strikeouts.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Tyson Ross | 13-14, 2.81 ERA, 1.211 WHIP, 195 K, 195.2 IP | 2.4 |
| 2. SP Ian Kennedy | 12-13, 3.76 ERA, 1.304 WHIP, 201 K, 194.0 IP | 1.1 |
| 3. RP Joaquin Benoit | 4-2, 16 HLD, 1.55 ERA, 0.803 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 | 1.7 |
Ross spent the first half of last season in the bullpen but turned in a 2.93 ERA in 13 second-half starts, so his breakout season was not exactly out of nowhere. With Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy back again next season, the Padres should have a formidable rotation once again.
More than a few eyebrows were raised when the small-market club signed Joaquin Benoit to a two-year, $15.5 million deal to set up Huston Street, but he's been dominant all season and has moved into the closer's role since Street was dealt to the Angels.
San Francisco Giants
30 of 30
Team MVP
| 1. C Buster Posey | .308/.361/.484, 27 2B, 21 HR, 86 RBI, 69 R | 4.8 |
| 2. RF Hunter Pence | .284/.339/.456, 29 2B, 20 HR, 73 RBI, 105 R | 3.9 |
| 3. SP Madison Bumgarner | 18-9, 2.91 ERA, 1.100 WHIP, 214 K, 210.0 IP | 3.8 |
After a so-so first half in which he hit .277/.333/.423 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI, Buster Posey has caught fire for the San Francisco Giants, helping them rebound from a rough couple of months after they opened the season looking like the best team in baseball.
Hunter Pence continues to be the type of do-it-all grinder that every team would love to have, while Madison Bumgarner is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in the game here in his age-25 season.
Team Cy Young
| 1. SP Madison Bumgarner | 18-9, 2.91 ERA, 1.124 WHIP, 214 K, 210.0 IP | 3.8 |
| 2. RP Santiago Casilla | 17-of-21 SV, 1.76 ERA, 0.888 WHIP, 7.0 K/9 | 1.8 |
| 3. SP Jake Peavy | 6-4, 2.20 ERA, 1.018 WHIP, 55 K, 73.2 IP | 1.8 |
Bumgarner had slightly better peripheral numbers last year, with a 2.77 ERA and 1.033 WHIP, but he has set a career high with 18 wins and 214 strikeouts here in 2014—and he should be able to improve on last year's ninth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting.
Jake Peavy sneaks into the No. 3 spot, as he's made as big an impact as any deadline acquisition, giving the team a legitimate second ace atop an otherwise shaky rotation and helping the Giants turn around a season that was in danger of slipping away.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and cover games through Monday, Sept. 22. All injury information comes via MLB Depth Charts team pages, all contract information via Baseball Prospectus player pages.
.png?w=480)
