Misiorowski vs Sanchez NL Cy Young Race; Schlittler Leads AL — SkimNews
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- Jacob Misiorowski has emerged as the NL Cy Young betting favorite with a 150.9 pitching AXE, sub-2.00 ERA, and a 24-4 game score record the article compares to Dwight Gooden's 1985 and Roger Clemens' 1986 seasons.
- Cristopher Sanchez leads the NL Cy Young by AXE at 154.5, though the author questions his bWAR edge and notes his recent stinker against the Nationals during the Phillies' playoff push hurt his case.
- Cam Schlittler is the AL Cy Young front-runner at 153.1 AXE after going 12-6 with a 2.09 ERA through August, then 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA in his first three September starts; he is also generating MVP buzz at 143.0 AXE.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong has effectively locked up the NL MVP at 165.3 AXE, with 10.4 fWAR, three steals shy of a 40-40 season, and a chance to lead baseball in both offensive and defensive runs above average while chasing Rogers Hornsby's 1929 Cubs record of 11.0 fWAR.
- Yordan Alvarez still leads the AL MVP at 146.9 AXE despite a second-half dip in which he has seen 4.1% fewer in-zone pitches overall and 5.8% fewer with men on base since the All-Star break.
- Reid Detmers has surged into AL Cy Young consideration by going 3-2 with a 1.65 ERA and a nearly 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 11 second-half starts, flipping from a 3-6, 4.39 ERA first half on a non-contending Angels team.
- Jesus Luzardo climbed to third in the NL Cy Young AXE rankings by gaining 6.9 points, but a shoulder injury ended his regular season and likely his Cy Young candidacy just as he was surging.
Why it matters: The NL Cy Young top 10 all cleared a 130 AXE threshold the author usually reserves for narrowing races, leaving voters to choose between Sanchez's stat sheet and Misiorowski's narrative dominance on the NL's best team. Schlittler's simultaneous AL Cy Young lead and MVP candidacy reflects a 2026 starting pitching class so dominant it is forcing reconsideration of pitcher MVP eligibility.
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