The race for the American League Cy Young Award is really picking up. Some of baseball’s biggest names are putting on a show as we head toward the All-Star break.
Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet sits in a weird spot this year. He trails far behind frontrunners like Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal and Houston Astros’ Hunter Brown.
Crochet’s stats put him among the league’s top pitchers. But the latest MLB.com poll shows experts leaning toward other candidates.
Let’s take a closer look at the numbers and stories shaping this Cy Young battle for Crochet and the Red Sox.
Who’s Leading the Cy Young Race?
MLB.com polled 49 experts, and Tarik Skubal ran away with it. He grabbed 47 first-place votes.
Houston’s Hunter Brown and New York Yankees’ Max Fried each got just one first-place vote. That says a lot about how much analysts respect Skubal’s game right now.
Skubal’s steady power on the mound has launched him ahead of the pack. It’s a real shift in the Cy Young conversation.
Crochet’s Impressive Stats Fall Short in the Polls
Garrett Crochet didn’t get a single first-place vote. Still, his numbers are tough to ignore.
In his first season with Boston, he’s put up a 9-4 record, a sharp 2.34 ERA, and he leads the league with 151 strikeouts. That’s not easy to do.
He’s held opponents to two or fewer earned runs in 16 starts this year. From late April to early June, he strung together seven straight dominant outings.
Crochet has also tied for the MLB lead in innings pitched at 120 1/3. That kind of durability is rare.
Yet, the Cy Young buzz just isn’t there for him. It makes you wonder—what else does he have to do?
The All-Star Game Showdown
Saturday could give fans a taste of the Cy Young competition. Crochet will face the Tampa Bay Rays.
Skubal goes up against the Seattle Mariners. Max Fried takes on the Chicago Cubs.
These games could help each pitcher build their case—not just for the Cy Young, but maybe for the All-Star Game start too.
Hunter Brown’s Recent Struggles
Hunter Brown is still in the Cy Young mix. But his last start didn’t help—he gave up six runs before the break, and his ERA climbed to 2.21.
Even the top guys hit rough patches. Brown’s second half will matter if he wants to stay up there with Skubal and Fried.
Could Crochet Become Boston’s Next Cy Young Winner?
For Red Sox fans, Crochet is a symbol of hope. The team hasn’t seen pitching dominance like this since Rick Porcello won the Cy Young in 2016.
Crochet’s arrival in the offseason has already paid off. He’s become the ace Boston needed, and he’s outperformed expectations.
He’s been spectacular, even if Cy Young recognition slips away this year. Boston’s rotation leans on him, no doubt about it.
The Road Ahead
The second half of the season is still to come. Crochet has time to keep sharpening his game and prove he belongs among the league’s elite.
His success will hinge on how he handles big moments, like Saturday’s start against Tampa Bay. That’s where legacies get built.
Maybe the real question isn’t if Crochet wins the Cy Young this season. Maybe it’s whether this run sets him up for something even bigger in the future.
He’s got the tools—control, resilience, the whole package. If he keeps this up, who’s to say he won’t be Boston’s next Cy Young winner someday?
Final Thoughts on Crochet’s Cy Young Chances
Garrett Crochet faces an uphill battle in the Cy Young race. Tarik Skubal seems to have a tight grip on the conversation right now.
Still, Crochet’s stats stand out, and he knows how to deliver when it matters. He’s become a crucial part of Boston’s rotation, giving fans plenty to get excited about.
This Cy Young race? It’s far from over. Crochet’s just getting started, and honestly, his future in Boston looks pretty bright.
Here is the source article for this story: Latest Cy Young Odds for Red Sox’s Garrett Crochet
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