NL Cy Young hopefuls still chasing Kershaw
Cy Young never won the Cy Young Award, but Clayton Kershaw has.
The Los Angeles Dodgers lefty has won the last two Cy Youngs and three of the last four. And the year he didn't win, he finished second.
If Kershaw had come along before Young, maybe we'd be talking about the Clayton Kershaw Award instead of the Cy Young Award.
Nowadays, going with Kershaw as your Cy Young winner in the National League is as safe a bet as picking the Cardinals to win the NL Central. Here is how I size up the Cy Young for 2015:
Kershaw:
Last year, Kershaw went 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA and a WHIP of 0.86. If you're old-fashioned and like wins as a stat, Kershaw is your guy. The ERA transcends any era. And if you like new numbers such as WHIP - walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched - it doesn't get much better than Kershaw.
In addition to his numbers, what's impressive about Kershaw is how hard he works at his craft. Last year, hours before a game at Wrigley Field, Kershaw was out on the mound, surveying the situation and getting the lay of the land. Hard work and preparation translate in any field.
If there's any knock against Kershaw, it's that his postseason numbers are nothing like his regular-season numbers.
For his career, Kershaw is 1-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 11 postseason games, 8 starts. The Dodgers should provide enough support around him this season that Kershaw will get another chance to improve those October stats.
Jordan Zimmermann:
Yeah, on a Washington Nationals staff with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, 28-year-old Jordan Zimmermann might be their best bet for a Cy Young.
The right-hander went 14-5 last year with a 2.66 ERA. For his career, he is 57-40 with a 3.24 ERA. In Game 2 of the division series last year against the Giants, Zimmermann went 8⅔ innings, giving up 3 hits and 1 run in a game the Giants won in 18 innings.
In his final regular-season start of 2014, Zimmermann no-hit the Marlins. It should be fun competition on the Nats staff this year.
Johnny Cueto:
For some reason, Cueto has been an overlooked pitcher in the NL. But a 20-win season for Cincinnati last year put Cueto second in the Cy Young balloting behind Kershaw.
Cueto led the NL last season in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts. The ERA was 2.25 and the WHIP was 0.96.
The 29-year-old right-hander is the ace of a Reds staff that lost Alfredo Simon and Mat Latos to trades. There aren't many expectations on the Reds this year, and if Cueto can help lift them in the standings, he'll get votes.
Honorable mentions: The Cubs' Jon Lester and Max Scherzer of the Nationals are switching from the American League to the National. The absence of the designated hitter in NL games figures to help both pitchers. And let's never forget Madison Bumgarner of the Giants. He won 18 games in the regular season and was fourth in Cy Young voting before going 2-0 against the Royals in the World Series to claim MVP honors for the Fall Classic. In three World Series, Bumgarner is 4-0 with an 0.25 ERA. Unfortunately for him, postseason efforts don't count toward the Cy Young.
• Follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.