Good morning to everyone but especially to…
JUSTIN VERLANDER…
World Series? Check. Cy Young? Check. Plenty left in the tank, wherever he may land? Check. Justin Verlander capped an incredible comeback season for the Astros with his third career Cy Young Award, receiving all 30 first-place votes.
- Verlander, 39, is the fourth-oldest pitcher to win a Cy Young. Roger Clemens holds the record, as he was 42 when he won the hardware in 2004.
- Verlander is the 11th pitcher to win three Cy Young Awards. He also won in 2011 with the Tigers and 2019 with the Astros.
- Verlander led MLB with a 1.75 ERA and finished second (and first in the AL) with 18 wins, all in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.
It’s yet another accomplishment in one of the best Hall of Fame resumes in recent memory, writes MLB expert Matt Snyder.
- Snyder: “Verlander has led his league in wins four times, ERA twice, complete games once, innings pitched four times, strikeouts five times, ERA+ three times, WHIP five times and WAR four times. … This is as complete a Hall of Fame case as you can find these days.”
The next question regarding Verlander is where he’ll land in 2023. The Astros are still the favorites, but there are plenty of other strong suitors, writes MLB expert R.J. Anderson.
… AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO SANDY ALCANTARA
The Marlins‘ newest ace might just be their best yet, and he now has the hardware to prove it. Sandy Alcantara won the NL Cy Young Award unanimously, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the award. He’s the first unanimous NL winner since Clayton Kershaw in 2014, and it’s just the second time both Cy Young winners won unanimously, along with Denny McLain and Bob Gibson in 1968.
- Alcantara led MLB with 228 2/3, innings pitched and six complete games.
- His 2.28 ERA was second in the NL behind Julio Urías, who finished third in Cy Young voting behind Alcantara and Max Fried.
Honorable mentions
- Stephen Curry poured in 50 points, but… check out the not so honorable mentions below.
- No. 11 Texas crushed No. 2 Gonzaga, 93-74, behind a career-high 26 points from Tyrese Hunter. It’s the Zags’ largest loss since 2014. The Longhorns are really good.
- ACC teams will honor UVA shooting victims this weekend. The Cavaliers canceled their game against Coastal Carolina.
- Teoscar Hernández is headed to the Mariners.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a game-winner against the Wizards. He’s…
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