I’ve said it several times before, but this is the best rotation the Braves have put together since Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz were dominating in the 90s. Max Fried is a legitimate ace, Spencer Strider might be even better, and Kyle Wright is on track to become just the seventh Braves player to win 20 games in a season. So, it’s really no surprise that all three of them crack the top 10 when it comes to odds for the NL Cy Young award.
2022 NL Cy Young Odds
1. Sandy Alcantara -500
2. Julio Urias +750
3. Zac Gallen +1400
4. Max Fried +1600
5. Tony Gonsolin +5000
6. Spencer Strider +8000
7. Carlos Rodon +15000
8. Aaron Nola +15000
9. Corbin Burnes +25000
. Kyle Wright +25000(via Michael Crosson) pic.twitter.com/jAsV7e1RN1
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) September 20, 2022
Alcantara has been the favorite for months now, and while I don’t think he should run away with the award, the narrative probably won’t allow him to lose it. I think guys like Urias, Gallen, Rodon, Fried, and even Strider are also very deserving.
If Strider had begun the season as a starter, this would be a much different conversation. He’s been the best starting pitcher in baseball since joining the Braves rotation. Wright definitely won’t win it, but it puts a smile on my face to see him within the top 10 candidates. His breakout campaign should not go unnoticed, as he has also been among the best pitchers in baseball this season.
When talking about the playoffs, pitching always has the chance to take over October. Amazingly, the Braves have won the World Series and nearly made it to another without much starting pitching. That won’t be the case this time around. Pitching has been arguably this team’s biggest strength all season, and it will make them that much tougher to beat come the playoffs.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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