Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, the first pitcher ever to go 15-0 at home in a season, was named Wednesday the winner of the American League Cy Young Award in a tight race. He becomes the third Astros winner behind Roger Clemens in 2004 and Mike Scott in 1986.The vote: Keuchel received 22 of the 31 first-place votes and finished with 186 points to beat out former Cy Young winner David Price of the Toronto Blue Jays (143 points). Sonny Gray of the Oakland Athletics (82) was third in the balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Why Keuchel won: Keuchel led the league in three key categories – wins, innings pitched and WHIP (walks plus hits per inning) – on the way to finishing 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA. He got a stiff challenge from Price, who edged him out for the ERA title with a 2.45 mark while going a combined 18-5 between the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays.Keuchel, who drew the starting assignment in his first All-Star Game appearance, became the undisputed staff ace of an Astros team that surprised observers by leading the AL West most of the season and earning a wild-card spot in the playoffs. He was a workhorse who started 33 games, pitched 232 innings and also faced the most batters in the league (911).The crafty Keuchel set a record with his perfect record at home, which was particularly impressive considering the short porch in left field at Minute Maid Park, a target for right-handed hitters against lefties. That had little impact on Keuchel, 27, who allowed only four homers and had a 1.46 ERA at home. Keuchel also did well in the lesser-known stats, finishing first in on-base-plus-slugging percentage allowed (.575) and second in batting average against (.217).Price’s quest for a second Cy Young may have been slightly hurt by his numbers being split between two teams, although he certainly was a factor in helping the Blue Jays claim their first AL East crown in 22 years. Price went 9-1 with Toronto, putting up a 2.30 ERA and assuming the role of staff ace as the Jays rallied to win 42 of their last 60 games after his July 30 acquisition.Widely regarded as the top available free agent in this year’s class, Price certainly made a strong case to add another Cy Young trophy to bookend the one he earned with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. He was third in the league in innings pitched (220 1/3), fifth in WHIP (1.08) and second to Keuchel in wins above replacement (WAR), 7.2-6. Price also ranked fourth in the AL with 225 strikeouts, nine better than Keuchel.Gray was one of the few shining stars in a dismal season for the last-place A’s, going 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA. He was the league leader in that stat much of the year before giving up 20 earned runs in 26 1/3 innings in September.History says: Rick Sutcliffe, who went from the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago Cubs on June 13, 1984, is the only pitcher ever to win the Cy Young after being traded during the season. He went 16-1 with a 2.69 ERA for the Cubs to earn the prize in the NL.The reaction: A brutal start in mid-September against the Texas Rangers – nine earned runs allowed in 4 2/3 innings – threatened Keuchel’s chances to become Houston’s first Cy Young winner since Roger Clemens in 2004. But he finished strong, winning his last three outings to reach the 20-victory mark and boost his chances.Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Sports
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