Mets ace Jacob deGrom is one of the top contenders to win the 2019 NL Cy Young. If he does, it would give him back-to-back Cy Young awards -- making him the first Met to ever accomplish that feat. Here's where things stand in the race...
Jacob deGrom, Mets
Key stats: 2.43 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 255 K's (11.25 per 9) in 204.0 IP (32 starts), 6.7 WAR (FanGraphs), 6.9 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Pitched 7.0 shutout innings against the Marlins, allowing two hits while striking seven and walking none on Sept. 25.
Next start: Following playoff elimination, deGrom's final start was on Wednesday vs. the Marlins.
Trending: UP, having finished the season on a 23-inning scoreless streak.
Max Scherzer, Nationals
Key stats: 2.92 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 243 K's (12.6 per 9) in 172.1 IP (27 starts), 6.5 WAR (FanGraphs), 5.9 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Allowed four runs on five hits (including two home runs) while walking one and striking out 10 in 6.0 IP against the Phillies on Sept. 24
Next start: Sept. 29 vs Indians
Trending: DOWN, as his ERA has risen from 2.30 on July 6 to 2.92 while he has failed to pitch more than 6.0 innings in any start during that span
Mike Soroka, Braves
Key stats: 2.60 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 135 strikeouts (7.1 per 9) in 169.2 IP (28 starts), 3.7 WAR (FanGraphs), 5.7 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Allowed two runs on five hits while walking none and striking out five in 5.0 innings against the Phillies on Sept. 19
Next start: Sept. 29 @ Mets
Trending: DOWN slightly after lasting just 5.0 innings against the Phillies during his most recent start
Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers
Key stats: 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 163 strikeouts (8.05 per 9) in 182.2 IP (28 starts), 4.5 WAR (FanGraphs), 4.6 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Pitched seven shutout innings allowing just five hits while striking out seven against the Giants on Sept. 28
Next start: N/A
Trending: UP, having allowed just three earned runs in 21.0 innings across his last three starts.
Sonny Gray, Reds
Key stats: 2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 205 strikeouts (10.5 per 9) in 175.1 IP (31 starts), 4.4 WAR (FanGraphs), 5.7 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Allowed three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out six in 5.0 IP against the Brewers on Sept. 24
Next start: Sept. 29 @ Pirates
Trending: DOWN, as he has been just average over his last three starts
Other candidates
Patrick Corbin, Nationals (3.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)
Jack Flaherty, Cardinals (2.85 ERA, 0.99 WHIP)
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (3.15 ERA, 1.07 WHIP)
Stephen Strasburg is high on the WAR leaderboards, but his 3.37 ERA is likely far off the pace needed to win the award.
