The MLB announced the Cy Young award winners for the American League and National League on Wednesday night. The Baseball Writers' Association of America chose a shoo-in for the NL and an interesting candidate for the AL.
Clayton Kershaw took home the 2014 Cy Young honors for the National League. It was the third time Kershaw won the award, with the other two coming in 2013 and 2011. The left-hander has led the league in ERA for the past four seasons and was the first pitcher in MLB history to do so. His 21 wins, 1.77 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 27 starts led the MLB. He beat out finalists Cincinnati Reds' starter Johnny Cueto and St. Louis Cardinals' starter Adam Wainwright becoming the ninth pitcher in history to win the award three times.
The 26-year-old is also a finalist for the NL MVP award that will be announced tomorrow evening on the MLB Network. Kershaw helped lead the Dodgers to a 96-66 record and their second straight NL West title. Unfortunately, after suffering only three losses throughout the regular season, Kershaw lost two games in the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals, during which Los Angeles was eliminated from the postseason.
In the American League, Cleveland Indians starter Corey Kluber earned his first Cy Young award and was the first Indians pitcher to take home the honors since Cliff Lee in 2008. Kluber's 17 first-place votes inched out Seattle Mariners' starter Felix Hernandez who received 13 first-place votes. The right-hander posted an 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 34 starts (235 2/3 IP) in his fourth season with Cleveland and his second as a starter.
The 28-year-old also beat out finalist Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. Kluber impressed after the All-Star Break, maintaining a 1.73 ERA with a 9-2 record. Despite their valiant efforts, each of the AL Cy Young finalists failed to help their teams make the playoffs in 2014, but it should be a different story next season depending on what the Indians, Mariners and White Sox do in free agency.
Tune in to MLB Network on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. for the MVP award recipient announcements.
