As the debates intensify over who deserves the 2023 National League Cy Young Award, the spotlight falls squarely on a few standout pitchers. Among them, Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies is making a compelling case, garnering significant support from his peers and analysts alike.
One of Wheeler's most vocal supporters is his own teammate, Bryce Harper. “Yeah, I mean, he's Cy Young. It's not even a question now, just the way he's kind of throwing, the way he's been doing it all year long. He deserves it -- he deserved it three years ago, or two years ago, too, and they robbed him of it, so he deserves it this year, no doubt,” Harper emphatically stated. This strong endorsement follows Wheeler's recent dominant performance against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he threw seven innings, giving up just one run on four hits and striking out six of the 24 batters he faced. His impressive outing saw his ERA drop to an impressive 2.56.
Wheeler's statistics this year have been striking. He ranks second in the National League in innings pitched, ERA among qualified pitchers, Wins Above Replacement (WAR), and pitcher-specific wins. This resilience and durability on the mound have kept the Phillies' rotation effective despite several injuries and inconsistencies throughout the season. Sports analyst Matt Snyder supports this viewpoint, asserting, "He's the ace of the best team in the league and has helped hold that rotation up through injuries and inconsistency here in the last two months."
However, Zack Wheeler is not without competition. Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves has also been a formidable force this season. Sale boasts a lower ERA and a higher WAR than Wheeler, making the race for the Cy Young Award particularly tight. But while Sale may have statistically superior metrics in some areas, Wheeler has thrown 14 more frames, highlighting his durability and stamina over the course of the season.
It's worth noting that this year marks Wheeler's second finish in the top five of Cy Young voting. In 2021, he narrowly missed out on the award, losing to Corbin Burnes by just 10 points. This history only adds fuel to the fire for those campaigning for Wheeler, including Harper, who alludes to past injustices in the voting process.
While the Cy Young Award deliberations often come down to more than just stats, it's Wheeler’s ability to remain consistent under pressure that makes his case so compelling. Known for his resilience, skill, and capacity to perform consistently, Wheeler epitomizes what an ace pitcher should be. This season, his role in maintaining the Phillies' competitive edge despite myriad challenges speaks volumes about his capabilities and value to the team.
The 2023 National League Cy Young Award race encapsulates the essence of baseball's competitive spirit, with two highly deserving candidates in Zack Wheeler and Chris Sale vying for the coveted prize. Only time will tell who will ultimately take home the award, but the discussions and analyses leading up to the final decision underline the significance of their contributions to the game this season.