Till final season, it had been 4 years since a Giants pitcher obtained a Cy Younger vote — a minor dry spell for some golf equipment however a California-sized drought for a staff with a latest run of arms the likes of Lincecum, Cain and Bumgarner (plus Wilson, Vogelsong and Cueto).
From Tim Lincecum’s first Cy Younger Award win in 2008 by means of 2016, a minimum of one — and as many as 4 — Giants appeared on Cy Younger ballots every season. When the slots elevated from three to 5 in 2010, nearer Brian Wilson and starters Matt Cain and Lincecum all obtained votes; the following yr, they one-upped themselves, with Lincecum, Cain, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong all incomes acclaim.
Kevin Gausman’s sixth-place end final season made him the primary Giants pitcher since Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto in 2016 to garner a vote. It additionally earned him a five-year, nine-figure contract in Toronto.
Because the season nears its finish and résumés are polished, Gausman’s rotation substitute — Carlos Rodón — is making a robust case to fill his spot on Cy Younger ballots, too.
Supervisor Gabe Kapler actually thinks so.
“I feel you would make a case that he’s been each bit as dominant as anyone else across the league,” Kapler mentioned. “So, a reasonably good candidate from my perspective. … I feel at this level, if I’m placing myself in Carlos’ sneakers, I’m seeing the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. And, to a point or one other, I’m seeing some life like, fairly lofty targets. Innings. Awards.”
Rodón, for his half, says he’s singularly centered on one factor. With 5 innings of one-run ball in opposition to Atlanta on Wednesday (and eight extra strikeouts, elevating his season complete to an NL-best 220), Rodón reached new private bests in video games began (29) and innings (167⅔). This time final yr, his fastball velocity had dropped precipitously as his arm fatigued in his first yr again from shoulder surgical procedure. On Wednesday, he topped out at 96.2 mph.
“I’m just a little shocked myself that I nonetheless have that fastball,” Rodón mentioned. “… So far as hitting a profession excessive in innings, I suppose that’s a testomony to sturdiness, lastly, for as soon as. That’s good. … I simply wish to make the remainder of the begins. That’s all I wish to do.”
Rodón’s Cy Younger odds are lengthy, however he might a minimum of match Gausman’s end.
Miami’s Sandy Alcantara is the runaway favourite in betting markets and the overall discourse across the league. Not solely is Alcantara second within the NL in ERA (2.43), he’s performed it whereas throwing greater than 20 innings greater than some other starter in majors (averaging 7 innings per begin). The Dodgers’ Julio Urías (16-7, 2.30) and Tony Gonsolin (16-1, 2.10), Atlanta’s Max Fried (13-6, 2.50) and Spencer Strider (10-5, 2.72), Arizona’s Zac Gallen (12-2, 2.50) and final yr’s winner, Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes (10-7, 2.97), additionally determine to think about.
Whereas we’re at it, let’s not overlook Logan Webb (13-8, 2.88), who has been almost as glorious as that group and proved his place as a centerpiece of the Giants’ future core. Some mentioned he deserved votes after his end to final season. Perhaps they are going to come this yr.
Rodón, nonetheless, stakes his declare in a number of key classes.
He has been probably the most invaluable pitcher within the majors, in keeping with FanGraphs’ calculation of wins above substitute (5.7). His 2.27 FIP, or fielding unbiased pitching, additionally leads the majors. And, in fact, there’s the strikeouts.
“He misses bats, which is a reasonably large standards for these forms of awards,” Kapler mentioned.
Rodón and Burnes’ turns by means of the rotation line up by means of the remainder of the season, which ought to present some leisure for Giants followers rooting for a staff out of playoff rivalry. Rodón fanned eight over 5 innings in his final begin; Burnes had 5 over seven. Scoreboard: Rodón 220, Burnes 219. Each ought to make 4 extra begins.
Some extra life like targets Rodón might set his sights on:
• Greatest season by a Giants left-hander since… Madison Bumgarner in 2016 (15-9, 226⅔ IP, 2.74 ERA, 251 Okay)
• Greatest season by a Giants pitcher since…Tim Lincecum in 2008 (18-5, 227 IP, 2.62 ERA, 261 Okay) and 2009 (15-7, 225⅓ IP, 2.48 ERA, 261 Okay)
Rodón’s 10 double-digit strikeout video games this season already surpassed Lincecum in 2009 (and Jason Schmidt in 2004) for probably the most in Giants historical past. Is Lincecum’s Giants file of 265 strikeouts that season inside placing distance, too? If Rodón makes 4 extra begins, he must common 11.25 per begin.
Not unattainable, however unlikely.
Rodón has reached double digits seven occasions over his previous 13 begins, however even over that stretch, which dates again to the beginning of July, he’s averaged 8.8 strikeouts per begin.
That charge, nonetheless, could be sufficient for Rodón to assert the single-season strikeout crown by a Giants left-hander, set by Bumgarner in 2016. Averaging 8.8 strikeouts over his final 4 begins would give Rodón 255, to Bumgarner’s 251.
As Kapler mentioned after Rodón’s begin at Wrigley Area, “it feels very very similar to a historic season.”