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So far one of the biggest stories in the first half of the season in MLB has been the dark cloud of pitchers using sticky substances. The league has cracked down and started to check pitchers between innings after they toe the rubber as a result, resulting in chaos early on. While it has affected some more than others with lower spin rates getting dialed in, there remains plenty of legit aces in the American League in the race for the AL Cy Young award.
At one time back in the middle of May it looked as though Yankees ace Gerrit Cole would run away with the award. Now that he's come back down to life in his last few outings, it's wide open yet again.
Here are the three AL Cy Young leaders entering the MLB All-Star break, ranked.
3.) Kyle Gibson – Rangers
Kyle Gibson isn't getting near the amount of love that he should be receiving for the season he's had in Texas so far. Sure, the Rangers are awful but Gibson has been putting up ace numbers and one stellar outing after another for the Rangers.
Perhaps it's because he isn't a young prospect and hasn't been dominating the game one year after another that he's not getting the recognition that he should for what he's done this year. However you slice it up this year though, entering the break, Gibson is definitely at least in the top three of AL Cy Young candidates.
What's wild about Gibson's season is that in his first start of the year, he recorded just one out and gave up five runs on four hits to the Kansas City Royals before getting yanked. His ERA after his first start was 135.00. Fast forward to July 7, his ERA is a healthy 1.98.
Gibson hasn't lost a decision, which isn't completely in his control but he sits at 6-0 on the year. He's pitched into the 6th inning in every single start except his first and hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any outing outside of the opener and on May 4th when he went 8 innings strong giving up 3 runs to the Minnesota Twins.
Gibson has been a bright spot in an otherwise stale year for the Rangers and he could be a very intriguing name to follow along with at the deadline. It's not often someone in the AL Cy Young race is getting traded at the deadline but with Texas going nowhere and Gibson on a short deal, he could be dealt elsewhere.
2.) Carlos Rodon – White Sox
This was extremely tough and Carlos Rodon has the stuff and the numbers this year to warrant being at the No. 1 spot entering the break but for now, he's No. 2 on this list.
Rodon has been a horse in the White Sox rotation this year and it's come as somewhat of a surprise. After pitching just 42.1 innings combined in 2019 and 2020, Rodon has responded in a major way in 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Most Cy Young winners have that one moment that stands out in a given year, the “MVP moment,” if you will. For Rodon, his no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians on April 14th more than qualifies as that moment for him.
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To win the AL Cy Young this year, Rodon will need to match a carbon copy of his first half of the season in the second half of the year. His number have been dominant and no-hitter aside, the White Sox southpaw has four other starts where he's gone at least 6 innings and given up two hits or less. Not runs, hits.
While expectations were for Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn to carry much of the weight in the rotation for Chicago, it has been Rodon who's joined their side throughout the season to help mow down the opposition.
1.) Gerrit Cole – Yankees
It has not been pretty for Gerrit Cole lately yet he still finds himself at the top of the mountain when it comes to the AL Cy Young award leaders.
Cole has been so dominant the last few years that anytime he strings together starts that aren't effective or to his level, it's flat out shocking. And that's exactly what has happened recently.
In his last two starts against the Red Sox and Mets, Cole has pitched a combined 8.1 innings while giving up 10 earned runs and 14 hits. It's a far cry from what he has displayed most of the year before that.
Many are pointing to the sticky substance rule changes as a reason for Cole's struggles and while they may be valid, time will only tell if there's some truth to be had in those claims.
Before the recent sputtering, Cole was up to his normal standards. He's posted 10 or more strikeouts in five starts this year, four of those coming right out of the gate in April. His 135 punch outs on the year lead the league and his filthy blend of pitches that fools batters left and right is one of the main reasons he leads the race for the AL Cy Young award.
It will be fascinating to watch Cole over his next couple of starts and coming out of the All-Star break. If he continues to tailspin, Rodon, Gibson or even someone like Lance Lynn could overtake Cole for the top spot in the race for the AL Cy Young. Logic and past history would indicate Cole will figure it out and that this is just a brief hiccup. If it's not, it could spell doom and gloom for not only Cole, but the Yankees as well.
