With nearly a month of the season in the books, there’s finally enough of a sample to take stock of the early leaders in the American League and National League Cy Young races.
As with last week’s MVP rankings, this is not a projection of who will ultimately win the award at season’s end. Instead, this reflects what a Cy Young ballot would look like if the season ended today.
AL Cy Young
1. José Soriano
When Soriano was hyped as a breakout candidate, few expected it to look like this. The Angels’ right-hander has opened the season with a 0.28 ERA, pairing his usual groundball profile with a sharp jump in strikeouts. His knuckle curve has become a real weapon, driving a whiff rate that’s gone from below average to a clear strength.
The walks are still a concern and could limit his case over a full season. Still, the combination of groundballs and missed bats puts the southpaw on track for an All-Star campaign.
2. Cam Schlittler
Schlittler leads all AL pitchers in fWAR and owns a 0.85 FIP. The young right-hander, who impressed as a rookie in the postseason, has shown that performance was no fluke and looks ready to emerge alongside Max Fried as a co-ace.
A K-BB% north of 30% will play at any level. Schlittler’s cutter is generating consistent whiffs, and his fastball continues to overpower hitters at the top of the one.
3. Kevin Gausman
The formula with Gausman is well established. Fastballs to get ahead, splitters down to generate whiffs, and only occasional sliders (28 so far this season). That approach is working again, with his strikeout rate back near its 2023 peak and his chase rate at its highest level since 2022.
Durability has long been one of Gausman’s biggest strengths since his breakout with the Giants. He’s unlikely to win the Cy Young, but if he reaches 170+ innings again, he should be firmly in the mix for votes.
NL Cy Young
1. Cristopher Sánchez
Leading the NL in FIP and sitting second in ERA, Sánchez has backed up the preseason buzz. His strikeout rate has taken a clear step forward, and his low ERA is even more impressive alongside a BABIP north of .400.
He’s allowed just five earned runs across five starts while striking out at least six hitters in each outing. If the season ended today, Sánchez would be the clear Cy Young winner.
2. Braxton Ashcraft
Ashcraft leads all NL pitchers in xERA. His stuff isn’t the sharpest overall, but he’s got an elite curveball. Pittsburgh has leaned into that, increasing his curveball usage significantly while dialing back the slider compared to 2025.
The curve is generating whiffs at a rate north of 50%. He works ahead in counts with a high-velocity fastball, and his command gives him a relatively high floor. If he can develop another plus pitch, there’s a path to a much higher ceiling.
3. Nolan McLean
In a difficult start to the season for the Mets, McLean has been one of the few bright spots. He ranks second in the NL in xERA behind Ashcraft and has shown no hesitation using his full arsenal.
Just 12 starts into his big-league career, it’s not too early to view McLean as a future Cy Young contender. If his early form holds, he has a real chance to enter the conversation as soon as 2026.
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