The race for the 2025 Cy Young Award is more open than ever, and one of the names that has been in the spotlight since the start of the season is Pittsburgh Pirates young pitcher Paul Skenes, one of the jewels of MLB.
Skanes has had impressive performances that have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike, and the Pirates pitcher is emerging as one of the leading contenders for the award that recognizes the best pitcher in each league.
Throughout the current season, standout performances on the mound have multiplied thanks to the growing use of technology in baseball. This evolution has allowed both rookie and veteran pitchers to optimize their repertoire and performance. In this context, Skenes has managed to excel in an increasingly competitive environment.
Is Skenes a Cy Young candidate?
In this context, Noah Hiles, along with Colin Beazley, have discussed the possibility of the Pirates pitcher winning the award in recognition of his outstanding performance on a limited roster such as the Pittsburgh Pirates:
“I think the only reason why you might want to be a little bit more careful and not completely reduce his workload is because this guy deserves a chance to win the Cy Young. Knowing that his win-loss record won’t be good because they didn’t surround him with a team good enough to take advantage of his many productive starts, I think we owe it to him at least give him the chance to surpass 200 innings,” Hiles said
For several years now, there has not been a consecutive winner of the Cy Young award, which shows the parity and the current level of demand. Historic names such as Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw dominated the recent era of the award, but in recent seasons the recognition has rotated more frequently.
Who is the favorite to win the Cy Young this season?
According to the bookmakers, Paul Skenes is among the favorites in the National League, although the road to winning the trophy will not be easy, as it seems that to stay in the conversation, the Pirates will have to not only maintain a good collective rhythm, but also support their star pitcher with offensive support and consistent defense.
The key for Skenes will be to maintain a combination of dominance on the mound, durability in his outings and consistency in his key statistics such as ERA, strikeouts, WHIP and innings pitched. A solid run in the second half of the season could cement his candidacy.
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