The 2024 AL Cy Young Race, once expected to feature several strong contenders, has shifted decisively in favor of Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal following recent struggles from Garrett Crochet and Nathan Eovaldi. Skubal now holds a clear advantage as the race approaches its final stretch, fueled by his elite pitching dominance this season.
Nathan Eovaldi’s Historic Run Faces Setback Against Arizona
Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi was having one of the greatest seasons of his career, posting a remarkable 1.38 ERA through 19 starts — the fifth-best in Major League Baseball history for that many outings. Despite missing much of June due to right triceps inflammation, Eovaldi remained firmly in Cy Young contention alongside Crochet and Skubal.
However, during his 20th start on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Eovaldi’s dominance unraveled. The Rangers secured a 7-6 victory in extra innings, but Eovaldi’s performance was far from stellar. After allowing only two runs over his previous 31.2 innings, Eovaldi gave up five runs in the first three innings and lasted just five frames, marking his poorest outing of the season. This outing raised his ERA to 1.71, still excellent but less dominant compared to Skubal and Crochet’s numbers.
Garrett Crochet’s Early Struggles in Key Houston Series
Meanwhile, Boston Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet also faltered in a crucial opportunity to narrow the gap in the AL Cy Young race. During the series opener against the Houston Astros on the same Monday, Crochet allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings, leading to a 7-6 loss. Though Crochet maintains a strong strikeout rate similar to the reigning AL Cy Young winner, his ERA slipped to 2.48—now trailing behind Skubal’s 2.35.
Skubal’s Consistency and Dominance Leave Competitors Behind
With the key advantage of possessing the lowest ERA, Skubal has pulled away in the battle. The 28-year-old, the 2024 pitching Triple Crown winner, leads the league in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with 5.6 and appears to be putting together an even more commanding campaign than last year. Despite a less effective outing on August 8 against the Los Angeles Angels, where he allowed four runs and six hits over 4.2 innings, Skubal’s overall statistics remain sterling.
He currently tops the AL in ERA, ERA+ (177), Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) at 2.12, WHIP (0.86), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.9). Among his highlights this season is a complete-game shutout, underscoring his ability to dominate opposing lineups.
Implications for the AL Cy Young Award and the Future
With Crochet and Eovaldi failing to capitalize on their moments to challenge Skubal’s lead, the Detroit left-hander looks poised to become the first pitcher in the American League since Pedro Martinez (1999-2000) to win consecutive Cy Young Awards. As long as Skubal remains healthy and maintains his current form, he appears set to secure back-to-back honors, further cementing his status as one of baseball’s elite pitchers.