A 37-year-old knuckleballer who is missing a ligament in his throwing arm leads the National League in wins, ERA and strikeouts. The Mets’ R.A. Dickey is putting together one of the most unusual Cy Young runs, but he’s not the only unique award candidate.
NL Cy Young candidate: R.A. Dickey » The right-hander became the first pitcher in 24 years to throw back-to-back one-hitters, extending his streak without allowing an earned run to 422Ú3 innings after Monday’s win over the Orioles. In his last five starts, Dickey (11-1) has three complete games, 52 strikeouts, five walks and allowed just 16 hits in 412Ú3 scoreless innings. The knuckleballer has controlled the most unpredictable pitch in baseball.
NL MVP candidate: Melky Cabrera » The Giants outfielder is on his fourth different team in four years, but he seems to have found a home in San Francisco. Cabrera leads the NL in hits, and is second in batting average and runs. He’s been an offensive spark for a Giants team that often relies too much on their deep pitching staff. After finishing last in the NL in runs scored last year, San Francisco is in the middle of the pack this season.
AL Cy Young candidate: Chris Sale » The 23-year-old has transitioned from reliever to starter rather nicely for the White Sox. Sale (8-2) is second in the AL with a 2.46 ERA and is fourth in WHIP (1.00). In his first two seasons as a reliever, Sale pitched 941Ú3 innings in 79 games with a 2.58 ERA and 111 strikeouts. This year, he’s won his last five decisions.
AL MVP candidate: Paul Konerko » It will be tough to top Josh Hamilton (.330 batting average, 22 home runs and 62 RBIs), but if anyone can maybe it’s the 36-year-old first baseman. Konerko leads the AL in batting average (.359) and on-base percentage (.434). His teammate Adam Dunn could also be a surprise MVP candidate. After his historically bad 2011 (.159 batting average, 11 ?home runs, 42 RBIs, 177 strikeouts in 415 at-bats), Dunn has bounced back to his old self — leading the AL in home runs (23). But he’s also hitting .227 and has 28 more strikeouts than anyone else in the majors.
– Jeffrey Tomik
