The American League Cy Young Award race in 2025 is fiercely competitive, featuring top pitchers from playoff-bound teams battling for the prestigious honor. Among them, Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox and reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers have emerged as the leading contenders. Crochet is making a compelling case, especially with his pursuit of the pitching Triple Crown for the league, while Skubal maintains his dominance in critical pitching metrics.
Crochet’s strong performance has put him in the spotlight, challenging Skubal’s quest for a second consecutive Cy Young. Both left-handed pitchers are showcasing remarkable talent, making this season’s race one of the most intense in recent memory.
Garrett Crochet’s Remarkable Rise with the Red Sox
This year has firmly established Garrett Crochet as one of the American League’s premier pitchers. Acquired from the Chicago White Sox last offseason, the Boston Red Sox signed him to a six-year, $170 million deal before he even appeared in a game for them. So far, that investment is paying off handsomely.
In 25 starts during the 2025 season, Crochet has posted a 13-5 win-loss record with an outstanding 2.43 ERA and 196 strikeouts over 159.1 innings pitched. His consistency is evident, as he currently shares the lead in wins at 13 and ranks in the top three in several other key pitching statistics. At various points this season, Crochet has been at or near the top of the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA, perfectly positioning him for the Triple Crown.
“GARRETT CROCHET! PURE ELECTRICITY!Probably the most animated we’ve seen him in a Red Sox uniform. Fenway is just a special environment right now.”
—Tyler Milliken, Baseball Analyst
Prior to August 22, Crochet’s rankings included:
- Third place in ERA (2.43)
- Second place in strikeouts (196)
- Tied for first in wins (13)
- Tied for first in innings pitched (159.1)
Beyond those headline numbers, Crochet excels in many advanced metrics tracked by Baseball Savant. His expected batting average against stands at a low .220, indicating that hitters struggle to connect effectively. He ranks in the top 20% of pitchers for exit velocity, walk rate, and groundball rate. Additionally, he belongs to the top 10% of the league with respect to chase rate, strikeout rate, and run value generated by his fastball, breaking balls, and overall pitching.
Crochet has delivered at least seven innings in 11 of his 25 starts, and he’s recorded nine games with nine or more strikeouts. His ability to limit opponents to fewer than three runs in most appearances further boosts Boston’s chances in games he starts. This consistent domination fuels hope that Crochet could claim both the Triple Crown and the Cy Young Award in his debut season with the Red Sox.
Tarik Skubal: The Formidable Reigning Champion
Despite Crochet’s dazzling numbers, Tarik Skubal remains a towering obstacle in the AL Cy Young Award race. The Tigers ace, coming off a unanimous Cy Young victory in 2024, continues to assert control over many pitching categories this season.
Skubal leads the American League with the lowest ERA (2.32), and he matches Crochet when it comes to shutouts and innings pitched. He tops <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB in strikeouts with 200 and has one of the lowest walk totals among qualified pitchers, conceding just 25. This blend of dominance and control makes Skubal an incredibly tough competitor.
When comparing fWAR, a comprehensive measure of a player’s total value, Skubal holds a significant edge with a 5.9 rating over Crochet’s 5.0. Their WHIP disparity also highlights the difference in control and effectiveness: Skubal’s 0.87 sits well below Crochet’s 1.07, reflecting Skubal’s ability to limit base runners more consistently.
Skubal’s exemplary 2024 season—18 wins, 4 losses, a 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts—set a high bar, and 2025 looks poised to surpass that. His strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) rate has already improved from 10.69 last year to 11.30 this season, suggesting that if he matched last year’s innings pitched, his strikeout totals would increase significantly. His pitching Run Value, a metric assessing run prevention above average, rose from +38 in 2024 to +45 in 2025, leaving plenty of room for further growth.
Winning every first-place vote last year as the AL Cy Young recipient, along with taking the pitching Triple Crown, Skubal is a proven frontrunner who appears ready to defend his title once again.
For Crochet to interrupt Skubal’s dominance, an extraordinary late-season surge from Crochet combined with a slip-up from Skubal will be necessary. Both pitchers are driving their teams’ playoff positioning this year, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
The Stakes Behind the Cy Young and Triple Crown Battle
Garrett Crochet’s pursuit of the American League pitching Triple Crown—leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts—is historically tied to Cy Young success, but this season could challenge that convention. If Crochet takes the Triple Crown but still loses the Cy Young to Skubal, this would mark the first time such a paradox has occurred in MLB history.
This paradox underlines the complexity of award voting, where additional factors like run prevention metrics, WHIP, and overall dominance influence voters beyond basic statistics. Skubal’s superior marks in these areas may ultimately tilt the scales in his favor.
Regardless of the final outcome, fans are witnessing one of the closest races for pitching supremacy in recent years. The intensity and suspense carried through the final days provide a captivating storyline that enriches the 2025 baseball season.
Whether it’s Skubal achieving back-to-back Cy Young Awards or Crochet emerging to claim his first, or even a surprise contender entering the mix, the quality on display is undeniable. The eventual winner will have earned the accolade through exceptional skill and persistence.