Complete voting results by year
2019 A.L. Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
17 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (21), innings (223), WHIP (.803)
Noteworthy: Verlander and Don Newcombe are the only pitchers ever to win Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP awards in their career. He pitched a no-hitter against Toronto on September 1, 2019. Verlander joins Sandy Koufax as the only pitchers to throw a no-hitter during a Cy Young Award-winning season twice. Verlander’s ERA+ (179) trailed teammate Gerrit Cole (185), who finished second.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2019 N.L. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
29 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Strikeouts (255), WAR (7.3)
Noteworthy: deGrom did not complete any starts in 2019, the sixth time a Cy winner posted zero complete games. His ERA (2.43) was second-best among starters and he went 11-8. No N.L. pitcher won more than 18 games (Stephen Strasberg). Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Dodgers led in ERA (2.32) and ERA+ (179) finishing second with the one other first-place vote.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2018 A.L. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays
17 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (21), ERA (1.89), ERA+ (217), WAR (7.4)
Noteworthy: Snell pitched only 180 innings due to a three-week disabled list stint mid-season. It is the lowest number of innings ever for a non-reliever Cy winner and only the second under 200 innings (Kershaw 2014). Justin Verlander finished second receiving the other 13 first-place votes. It was Verlander’s third second-place finish in Cy voting.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2018 N.L. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
29 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: ERA (1.70) ERA+ (218), FIP (1.98)
Noteworthy: deGrom allowed more than three runs in just one start. Turns out it was one of his 10 wins. Mets scored two runs or less in 12 of deGrom’s starts. His 9.6 WAR trailed only Aaron Nola (10.4) in the N.L. deGrom’s 1.7 ERA was the sixth lowest among starting pitcher winners of the Cy Young Award. Only Bob Gibson, Dwight Gooden, Greg Maddux (twice) and Dean Chance had ERAs lower than 1.7.
Background resources: See 2019
2017 A.L. Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
28 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (18), ERA (2.25), complete games (5), shutouts (3), ERA+ (202), WHIP (0.869),
Noteworthy: Kluber’s 2.25 ERA was the best in the majors and the first time since 1949 that an Indians pitcher (Mike Garcia) led MLB. Kluber had excellent control with 265 strikeouts and only 36 walks, the fifth-best strikeouts-to-walks ratio by a Cy-winning starting pitcher. Red Sox lefty Chris Sale finished second with the other two first-place votes. Entering 2020, Sale has six top-five Cy Young Award finishes without winning the award, tied for the most ever.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2017 N.L. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
27 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Strikeouts (268), WHIP (0.902), WAR (7.2)
Noteworthy: 2017 was Scherzer’s seventh consecutive season in the top five of Cy Young voting, a record. He went 16-6. Kershaw was 18-4 with a better ERA (2.31 vs. Scherzer’s 2.51) but Kershaw pitched only 175 innings.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2016 A.L. Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox
8 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (22)
Noteworthy: Porcello is one of three Cy winners (Lincecum 2009, Glavine 1998) to not receive the most first-place votes. Justin Verlander finished second but had 14 first-place votes. The following year, Porcello lead the A.L. in losses.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2016 N.L. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
25 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (20), innings (228.1), strikeouts (284), WHIP (0.968), WAR (6.3).
Noteworthy: Scherzer was the only 20-game winner in the National League. Jon Lester went 19-5 and bested Scherzer in ERA (2.44 to 2.96) and ERA+ (171 to 144) but had 87 fewer strikeouts than Scherzer.
Background resources: See 2017
2015 A.L. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
22 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (20), shutouts (2), innings (232), WHIP (1.017), WAR (6.7)
Noteworthy: Keuchel went 15-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 18 home starts. He was 5-8 away from Minute Maid Park. Entering 2020, it is the only season Keuchel has received Cy Young votes. A record 14 pitchers received Cy votes in 2015.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2015 N.L. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
17 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (22), complete games (4), shutouts (3)
Noteworthy: Arrieta was second to Zack Grienke in WAR, ERA and ERA+. Grienke earned 10 first-place votes and finished second in overall voting. Arrieta was 20-25 as an AL pitcher before moving to the Cubs. Better mechanics/pitch selection and he resurrected his career going 86-50 through 2019. Arrieta no-hit the Dodgers on August 30, 2015.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2014 A.L. Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
17 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (18), FIP (2.35), WAR (8.3)
Noteworthy: 2014 was Kluber’s first full season in the majors as a starting pitcher. He wasn’t rookie eligible because he made 24 starts in 2013, but he had one of the best performances for a pitcher in his first full season. Seattle’s Felix Hernandez took the other 13 first-place votes. He had a better ERA (2.14 vs. 2.44 for Kluber), WHIP (0.915 vs. 1.095) and ERA+ (170 vs. 160) but won just 15 games.
Background resources: See 2017
2014 N.L. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
30 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (21), ERA (1.77), complete games (6), ERA+ (197), FIP (1.81), WHIP (0.857), WAR (7.7)
Noteworthy: In 2014, despite missing a month with a back injury, Kershaw became the 17th unanimous Cy winner, the 11th in the N.L. He was also the N.L. Most Valuable Player, one of five unanimous Cy winners to win MVP. Kershaw pitched a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies June 18, 2014.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2013 A.L. Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers
28 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (21), WHIP (0.970)
Noteworthy: Scherzer started the season 13-0 and had only three losses. His teammate Anibal Sanchez led the A.L. in ERA (2.57) and received one of the other first-place votes. Sanchez had the best ERA+ (162) and Seattle’s Hisashi Iwakuma (third place overall) led in WAR (7.2).
Background resources: See 2017
2013 N.L. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
29 of 30 first-place votes
Led league in: ERA (1.83), shutouts (2), strikeouts (232), ERA+ (194), WHIP (0.915), WAR (8.0)
Noteworthy: Kershaw led the N.L. in ERA five times through 2019 but in his best ERA season (1.69 in 2016), he did not lead the league and finished 5th in Cy voting. 2016 was also his career-low WHIP season (0.725).
Background resources: See 2014
2012 A.L. David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
14 of 28 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (20), ERA (2.56)
Noteworthy: Price narrowly outpointed Justin Verlander 153-149. Verlander received 13 first-place votes and had a higher WAR (8.1 vs. 6.6) and better ERA+ (161 vs. 150). Price and Jered Weaver (3rd place) each went 20-5. Price has finished in the top six in Cy voting four times but never in consecutive seasons.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2012 N.L. R.A. Dickey, New York Mets
27 of 32 first-place votes
Led league in: Complete games (5), shutouts (3), innings (233.2), strikeouts (230)
Noteworthy: Dickey went 20-6. Clayton Kershaw led the N.L. in WAR, ERA and ERA+ but won just 14 of 33 starts and placed second. Dickey and Phil Niekro (262 in 1977) and the only knuckleball pitchers to lead the league in strikeouts.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page, Knuckleball!
2011 A.L. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
28 of 28 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (24), ERA (2.40), innings (251), strikeouts (250), ERA+ (172), WHIP (.920)
Noteworthy: Verlander was also the American League MVP, one of seven times in his career he finished in the top 20 in MVP voting. He pitched a no-hitter against Toronto on May 7, 2011.
Background resources: See 2019
2011 N.L. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles
27 of 32 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (21), ERA (2.28), strikeouts (248), WHIP (0.977)
Noteworthy: 2011 started a stretch of five consecutive seasons that Kershaw received MVP votes and won his only Gold Glove. Roy Halladay led in WAR (8.8 to Kershaw’s 6.7) and ERA+ (163 vs. 161). He received four first-place votes. Cliff Lee finished third with no first-place votes despite an 8.5 WAR and six shutouts, the most since Tim Belcher had eight for the Dodgers in 1989.
Background resources: See 2014
2010 A.L. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
21 of 28 first-place votes
Led league in: ERA (2.27), innings (249.2), WAR (7.2)
Noteworthy: This may be the breakthrough moment where wins officially became an overrated statistic. Hernandez won just 13 games. He had 12 starts in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer and the Mariners did not win. Seattle scored only 513 runs on the season, the fewest of any A.L. team since the debut of the designated hitter in 1973.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page
2010 N.L. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
32 of 32 first-place votes
Led league in: Wins (21), complete games (9), shutouts (4), innings (250.2), WAR (8.6)
Noteworthy: Go figure: Halladay twice led the league in hits allowed (and also innings). Both seasons he won the Cy. He pitched a perfect game against the Florida Marlins May 29, 2010 and a no-hitter in the 2010 playoffs against the Cincinnati Reds. He’s the only pitcher ever with two no-hitters during the season he won the Cy Young Award.
Background resources: Baseball-reference.com page, Hall of Fame bio, SABR bio