Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal Capture First Cy Young Awards
In an impressive culmination of the 2024 MLB season, Atlanta’s Chris Sale and Detroit’s Tarik Skubal were honored with their first Cy Young Awards on Wednesday night. Both left-handers dominated the league with 18 wins, leading in strikeouts and earned run average (ERA) in their respective leagues.
Sale, 35, posted an outstanding 18-3 record with a league-high 225 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA over 29 starts for the Braves. Recognized as an All-Star for the eighth time, he also clinched his first Gold Glove this year. “It means a lot. It’s a special night,” said Sale, reflecting on his comeback after years plagued by injuries. “I just can’t express how thankful I am for everybody that stuck by me.”
Skubal, celebrating his 28th birthday, finished 18-4 with a stellar 2.39 ERA and an impressive 228 strikeouts across 31 starts. He received unanimous recognition in American League voting. “All the hard work makes it extremely worth it,” he shared.
In the National League, Sale garnered 26 out of 30 first-place votes, while Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler came in second. Notably, Skubal outperformed Kansas City’s Seth Lugo, who was the runner-up in the AL voting.
The triumph of Sale and Skubal marks a rare achievement, as they join the elite club of pitchers who led their leagues in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, with a Cy Young Award following each time in history. Sale’s accolade adds to Atlanta’s legacy, marking the franchise’s eighth Cy Young win, while Detroit now claims six.
The remarkable performances of both pitchers have set the stage for a promising future as they look to build on this success in the coming seasons.
Source
Photo credit www.cbsnews.com
