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About a month ago, it seemed almost a foregone conclusion that Detroit Tigers ace pitcher Tarik Skubal would walk away with the American League's Cy Young Trophy, just as Paul Skenes would in the National League.
However, as we enter the final month of the regular season, the race is now more open than ever, thanks to a strong comeback by Boston Red Sox gunner Garrett Hook.
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Captain Crochet was undefeated in June and July, posting an 8-0 record with 86 strikeouts and 18 earned runs in ten starts over that period. The left-hander carried that momentum into August, going 2-0 with 32 strikeouts and just four walks in four outings on the mound.
This late surge could prevent Skubal from becoming the first pitcher since Jacob deGrom in 2018 and 2019 to win back-to-back Cy Young trophies.
Through 2025, both pitchers have exceptional and nearly identical numbers across the board, with Skubal holding a slight statistical advantage, with a higher on-base rate (3.9% vs. 6.3% for Hook) and higher WAR.
The final month of the campaign will be crucial for both pitchers to make their case as the best pitcher in the American League. Neither candidate has much experience in this situation, and both will be under more pressure as they prepare to lead their respective teams into the playoffs.
At this point, Skubal still seems in the lead to win the title, but a race that seemed to be over at the beginning of the summer is wide open again.
This content was created with the help of AI.
