Tarik Skubal was at it again on Tuesday, delivering seven more dominant innings (zero runs, two hits, one walk, seven Ks) to help the Cinderella Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that puts Detroit temporarily in sole possession of the second AL Wild Card spot. (Imagine reading that sentence to yourself even six weeks ago.)
Not that there was really any doubt at this point, but it was yet another reminder: This is the best pitcher in the American League this season, lowering his league-leading ERA to a microscopic 2.39. With numbers like those, it’s no surprise that Skubal has been the betting favorite to take home the AL Cy Young Award for pretty much the whole second half of the season, a status that certainly won’t change after Tuesday’s performance. But where does the rest of the AL stack up as we enter the season’s final week? Let’s break down the candidates.
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