The race for the National League CY Young has taken an unexpected turn midway through the 2025 season as Paul Skenes has been a sensation on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates and continues to amaze with his outstanding performances (1.94 ERA). But he has been joined in the fight by Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies, a veteran All-Star.
Wheeler is 35 years old and is proving that his experience is a lethal weapon on the mound with an ERA of .177, which makes him a serious candidate for the award. Although one of the differences is that Skenes has not been backed by the Pirates’ offense, and Zack has put pressure on the CY Young decision.
Zack Wheeler, the veteran Phillies pitcher who could win the 2025 Cy Young
The pitcher has had good campaigns throughout his time in MLB, and has even been close to winning the award, but it has eluded him. In 2021 and 2024 he was in the final decision, especially in the former because he dominated in strikeouts and surpassed his rivals in some areas
At the moment, he has nine victories and dominance in the statistics, so much so that he is one of the most reliable arms in Philadelphia that wants to reach the postseason. In contrast, Skenes has not been able to accumulate victories despite shining individually. His team’s support has not been there and the offense disappears at important moments.
Paul Skenes and his impressive MLB season: Will it be enough for him to win the CY Young?
If there is one thing that is not in doubt in the Major Leagues, it is that Skenes is having one of the best debut campaigns in the last decade. He has shown his skills such as control, speed and maturity, making things look as if he were a veteran or had been in the MLB for some years. But one thing is for sure, it is not enough to impress with his performances, he needs good numbers and a lot of consistency.
That’s why Wheeler has gained ground and despite being a veteran, he has not slowed down, he maintains good pitches like his curveball and is adding efficient statistics. His WHIP and batting average are the best of his career so he has entered the conversation and is a candidate to win this award.
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