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New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Making their case: AL Cy Young edition

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 11/15/23

With new rules that favored the hitter not only in the batter's box but also on the basepaths, the 2023 season was tough on pitchers but some were able to adjust to these changes on the fly and had dominant performances this season.

With the finalist for the 2023 American League Cy Young Award now set, let's take a look at each player's case for the award.

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees, pitcher

2023 stats: 15-4, 2.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 222 SO in 209 innings pitched

Leading the AL in multiple categories including ERA, WHIP, innings pitched and shutouts, New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole had one of the best seasons by a pitcher in recent franchise history.

After leading the AL in home runs allowed in 2022 with 33, Cole was able to cut down on the long ball drastically in 2023 allowing only 20.

Even though it was a disappointing season for the Yankees who finished in fourth place in the AL East with a record of 82-80, Cole kept them in the playoff hunt up until the final stretch.

Without Cole, the Yankees are likely making a selection in the top 10 of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Gerrit Cole had a year for the @Yankees history books.

Is he headed for his first Cy Young Award? pic.twitter.com/PWdZ4nyNSz
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 8, 2023

Joining the Yankees after the 2019 season, Cole has finished in the top ten of the Cy Young voting every year since 2018 and is the favorite to take home his first Cy Young Award in 2023.

Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher

2023 stats: 12-9, 3.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 237 SO in 185 innings pitched

The AL leader in strikeouts with 237 and SO/9 at 11.5, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman continued his run of excellence he's been on since 2021 with another great season in Toronto that ended in a postseason appearance.

Breaking the 200-strikeout mark in each of the past three seasons, Gausman does it efficiently without throwing more than 192 innings in any of those seasons.

"It's pretty cool... my career had its ups and downs. As a starting pitcher, this is an award you want."@BlueJays ace Kevin Gausman was just named a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award! @officialBBWAA pic.twitter.com/VDy0ReCPP1
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 6, 2023

Like Cole, Gausman deserves extra credit for his dominance while pitching in the loaded AL East.

Although his team fared better during the season, Gausman's numbers don't quite match those of Cole's and it will be tough for him to walk away with the award.

Sonny Gray, Minnesota Twins, pitcher

2023 stats: 8-8, 2.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 183 SO in 184 innings pitched

Following up on his strong 2022 season, Twins pitcher Sonny Gray was even better in 2023.

Making his third All-Star team and first as a member of the Twins, Gray had the third-best ERA in the MLB at 2.79 and allowed the fewest home runs by a starter surrendering only eight on the season.

The Ace of the Twins' pitching staff, Gray helped the club secure their first playoff series victory since 2002 after their 2-0 sweep over Gausman and the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL wild-card series.

With Sonny Gray being a finalist for the Cy Young, lets take a look at one of the pitches that got him there, his sinker ️ @LanginTots13 breaks it down in this Driveline Deep Dive snippet pic.twitter.com/dR9HhdF4VD
— Driveline Baseball (@DrivelineBB) November 13, 2023

Gray put together a great 2023 season as he heads into free agency looking to cash in on his strong production, but it is not worthy of the AL Cy Young and he will likely finish third in the voting.

The AL Cy Young Award winner will be announced live on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET on Nov. 15.

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