Early Cy Young Look - NL

I'll get around to talking AL baseball at some point, but I'll make no secret of the fact I'm not a huge fan of the DH, and much prefer to watch NL ball.  After yesterday's post about the top teams in the NL turned into a critique of pitching staffs, I figured I'd expand and pick my top 5 Cy Young candidates to date on the senior circuit.

1. Roy Halladay- Philadelphia Phillies
The numbers are mind numbing.  Even after a rough outing, Halladay sports a 2.40 ERA (2nd in NL), 123 K's (2nd in NL), 10 wins (1st in NL), and a WHIP of just 1.03 (Tie- 2nd in NL).  Add in the fact that Doc is on track to throw north of 220 innings this year, and it's tough to argue he won't repeat as winner of the award.  I've said it before- if I had to take one guy to throw one game that I had to win, Halladay would be my guy. 

2. Jair Jurrjens - Atlanta Braves



Jair Jurrjens

 Jurrjens has quietly moved into the runner up spot, posting 10 wins (1st in NL), an ERA of just 2.07 (1st in NL), and a WHIP of 1.14 (14th in NL).  Jurrjens is not a overpowering strikeout guy, recording just 55 K's thorough 95+ IP.  When he's been healthy, he's been a dynamite ERA pitcher over the past three seasons, but injuries have hampered his progress.  He's still a young arm, and one that will be around in Atlanta for a while.  If he can put together an extended injury free run, he's the type of player that could put a sub 2.00 ERA together deep into the season.

3. Clayton Kershaw- LA Dodgers
The Dodger's economic turmoil has overshadowed Kershaw's great performance this season.  He leads the league in strikeouts (128), and has won 8 games while compiling a 2.93 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.  Kershaw has been on a roll lately, having won his last 5 decisions, not taking a loss since April 26.  He's thrown 2 complete games in a row, allowing just 2 earned runs while striking out 22.  He might be the hottest arm in the NL heading into the All Star break.

4. Cole Hamels - Philadelphia Phillies
Here's where it starts to get dicey- a lot of good candidates to round out the last two spots.  It's also hard to believe that I'm throwing a #3 starter into the Cy Young mix, but then again, it is the Phillies.  Hamels is the NL WHIP leader at 0.97.  It's the stat that speaks loudest to me as to how good a pitcher really is.  His ERA is 4th best in the league at 2.49, and he's racked up 108 K's, also 4th in the NL.  Too bad for him he's not the best pitcher on his team- and you just can't give the award to 2nd best.

5. Tommy Hanson- Atlanta Braves
The numbers say it all - 2.48 ERA (3rd in NL), and 1.03 WHIP (2nd in NL).  89 K's in 83.1 IP.  In just his second full season, Hanson has established himself as the Brave's co-ace of the future.  You see two Phillies and two Braves on this list (with good reason)- the good news if you're a Braves fan?  Jurrjens-Hanson's combined age: 49.  Hamels-Halladay's: 61.  The future is bright in Atlanta.

Next man out: Ian Kennedy, ARZ

Honorable Mention: Shawn Marcum, MIL; Tim Hudson, ATL; Matt Cain, SAN; Cliff Lee, PHI; Anibal Sanchez, FLA. 

Feel free to disagree, and let me know if I missed on anyone.