Tigers’ left-hander Tarik Skubal unanimously wins AL Cy Young Award

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal was unanimously selected as the American League Cy Young Award winner.

For the third consecutive year, the AL Cy Young Award winner has been a unanimous choice. Skubal’s election follows those of Gerrit Cole in 2023 and Justin Verlander in 2022. The only other time that three consecutive Cy Young Award winners were unanimous selections in either league was in the AL with Roger Clemens in 1998 and Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. 

It marks the 12th time overall that an AL pitcher has been a unanimous choice for the award. The others were Verlander in 2011 and ‘22, Martinez in 1999-2000, Clemens in 1986 and ‘98, Johan Santana in 2004 and ‘06, Cole in 2023, Ron Guidry in 1978 and Denny McLain in 1968. There have been 15 unanimous Cy Young Award winners in the National League.

Skubal, who led AL pitchers in victories (18-4 record), earned run average (2.39) and strikeouts (228), is the seventh “triple crown” winner in the league to take the Cy Young Award. Clemens did it in back-to-back seasons (1997-98). The others were Martinez (1999), Verlander (2011), Santana (2006) and Shane Bieber (2020). It has occurred nine times in the NL, including this year with Chris Sale. This is the second time both Cy Young Award winners won pitching’s triple crown as well. The other year was 2011 with Verlander in the AL and Clayton Kershaw in the NL. 

It is the sixth time a Detroit pitcher has been honored. Skubal joins McLain, a two-time winner (1968-69), plus Verlander (2011), Max Scherzer (2013) and Guillermo “Willie” Hernandez (1984).

Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians finished third, the highest for a relief pitcher in either league since 2008 when Francisco Rodriguez placed third behind winner Cliff Lee and runner-up Roy Halladay.

Skubal and the Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo were the only pitchers listed on every ballot.

Ballots were submitted prior to postseason play. They are tabulated on a system that awards seven points for first place, four points for second place, three points for third place, two votes for fourth place and one point for fifth place.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Points
Tarik Skubal, Tigers 30 210
Seth Lugo, Royals 14 9 3 4 93
Emmanuel Clase, Guardians 9 7 2 5 66
Cole Ragans, Royals 3 6 6 6 48
Corbin Burnes, Orioles 3 4 9 5 47
Logan Gilbert, Mariners 1 2 6 3 25
Framber Valdez, Astros 2 3 5 17
Kirby Yates, Rangers 1 2
Yusei Kikuchi, Astros 1 1
Cade Smith, Guardians 1 1

Below is a breakdown of the 30 individual ballots, submitted by two writers representing each city in the American League. For more information on the voting, see our Voting FAQ.

Name Affiliation Chapter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Rich Dubroff BaltimoreBaseball.com BAL Skubal Clase Lugo Burnes Valdez
Gabe Lacques USA Today BAL Skubal Clase Burnes Lugo Smith
Alex Speier Boston Globe BOS Skubal Gilbert Ragans Burnes Lugo
Ian Browne MLB.com BOS Skubal Lugo Clase Burnes Ragans
LaMond Pope Chicago Tribune CHI Skubal Lugo Clase Burnes Ragans
Scott Merkin MLB.com CHI Skubal Clase Lugo Burnes Ragans
Mandy Bell MLB.com CLE Skubal Lugo Clase Ragans Burnes
Ryan Lewis Akron Beacon Journal CLE Skubal Lugo Burnes Ragans Clase
Evan Petzold Detroit Free Press DET Skubal Lugo Burnes Gilbert Ragans
Chris McCosky Detroit News DET Skubal Lugo Gilbert Ragans Burnes
Brian McTaggart MLB.com HOU Skubal Lugo Ragans Valdez Clase
Kristie Rieken The Associated Press HOU Skubal Clase Valdez Lugo Burnes
Jeff Zimmerman FanGraphs KC Skubal Ragans Lugo Gilbert Kikuchi
Dave Skretta The Associated Press KC Skubal Clase Lugo Yates Valdez
Rowan Kavner FOX Sports LA Skubal Lugo Ragans Clase Gilbert
Rhett Bollinger MLB.com LA Skubal Clase Lugo Ragans Valdez
Dan Hayes The Athletic MIN Skubal Clase Ragans Gilbert Lugo
Dave Campbell Associated Press MIN Skubal Clase Ragans Burnes Lugo
Greg Joyce New York Post NY Skubal Lugo Valdez Burnes Clase
Erik Boland Newsday NY Skubal Burnes Lugo Clase Valdez
John Shea San Francisco Chronicle OAK Skubal Burnes Lugo Gilbert Ragans
Martín Gallegos MLB.com OAK Skubal Lugo Burnes Ragans Gilbert
Ryan Divish Seattle Times SEA Skubal Ragans Lugo Gilbert Burnes
Tim Booth Associated Press SEA Skubal Lugo Ragans Gilbert Clase
John Romano Tampa Bay Times TB Skubal Lugo Clase Valdez Gilbert
Mark Didtler Associated Press TB Skubal Clase Lugo Burnes Ragans
Kevin Sherrington Dallas Morning News TEX Skubal Lugo Clase Burnes Valdez
Jeff Wilson DLLS TEX Skubal Lugo Clase Valdez Burnes
Ian Harrison Associated Press TOR Skubal Ragans Gilbert Lugo Clase
Keegan Matheson MLB.com TOR Skubal Burnes Clase Ragans Lugo

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