The American League (AL) Cy Young Award race is blazing-hot, with compelling arguments for both Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal and Boston Red Sox’s Garrett Crochet. In this edition of Point/Counterpoint, staff writer Sam Calhoun and campus correspondent Thaddeus Sawyer provide their takes on this race.
Thaddeus Sawyer: Tarik Skubal
Both Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal have had Cy Young worthy seasons. While Crochet has established himself as a true frontline starter, Skubal has carried over his performance from his 2024 Triple Crown winning season to cement himself as one of the best pitchers of the decade. Despite both having dominant seasons in 2025, Skubal has been just a bit better than Crochet by most stats.
Skubal has a marginal lead over Crochet in all of ERA, ERA+, WHIP, strikeouts, strikeout percentage, batting average against and hits allowed. Skubal’s peripherals, such as his FIP and batting average on balls in play, back up this advantage over Crochet being legitimate. The biggest difference in their statistical performances this season has been the ability to limit free passes. Skubal has issued only 27 walks to Crochet’s 44 and is walking almost a batter less per inning.
The main statistical advantage that Crochet holds over Skubal is his win total. The four extra wins certainly don’t hurt Crochet’s case, but recent Cy Young votes demonstrate that wins don’t carry the same weight they once did. Then, Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom won the National League Cy Young with 10 wins in 2018 and again with 11 in 2019. Robbie Ray won the American League award with the Blue Jays back in 2021 and didn’t even finish first in wins on his own club. Even beyond wins losing value as pitching stat, the argument that they prove a pitcher is putting their team in a position to win is overstated. Despite Crochet having four more individual wins, the Tigers have a team record of 20-7 when Skubal pitches in comparison to Boston’s 18-9 record when Crochet pitches.
Skubal’s propensity to disallow walks, along with a lower hits per nine innings and equal home runs per nine innings to Crochet, has contributed to him putting up 11 starts this season in which he has not allowed an earned run. Nine of those starts have been six innings or longer. Crochet has only four starts this season without allowing an earned run. Unlike the Most Valuable Player award, the Cy Young is for individual pitching success regardless of team success. Skubal has shown repeatedly this season that his best is the best in the league. Crochet has had a great season, but he simply has not done enough to dethrone the reigning Cy Young and Triple Crown winner.
Sam Calhoun: Garrett Crochet
There is no doubt that Skubal is one of the top pitchers in the league. However, it has become clear this season that Crochet is posing some competition to the reigning Cy Young winner. While stats do not lie, the Red Sox would not be in playoff contention at all if they did not have Crochet as their ace. The Red Sox need to win every single game that Crochet plays to secure their spot in the postseason. If the Tigers lose one game with Skubal on the mound, they’re still likely going to win the American League Central division (9 game lead over the Kansas City Royals as of writing).
In one of Skubal’s most recent starts, the reigning AL Triple Crown winner gave up six runs, including a grand slam, against the Athletics. While Skubal has a chance to win the Triple Crown again, Crochet is right behind him in total strikeouts and has the advantage in total wins.
One key piece that makes this race even more intriguing is each team’s strength of schedule. According to ESPN, the Red Sox have a stronger schedule (.502, tied for 9th in MLB) than the Tigers (.496, tied for 25th in MLB).
The Cy Young Award is different in that it does not factor in who has been more valuable to their team. It is much more about stats than the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards are for the Baseball Writers Association of America (BWAA) than anything else. But while Skubal has these statistical leads, these change with every start that each ace makes. Each ace has started 27 games, but Crochet will have started by the time this Point/Counterpoint has been published. Crochet is well within range of taking back the MLB lead in total strikeouts (he is two places behind Skubal) and can earn his 15 win of the season, which would tie him with New York Yankees ace Carlos Rodon for the most wins in the American League this season.
The fact that the Red Sox’s defense is rated as one of the worst in terms of fielding percentage is not taken into account. They lead the MLB in error with 103, while the Tigers only have 72. Having a greater supporting infield and outfield presence is essential for these aces as well. Luckily for Crochet, he has been striking out virtually everyone so that the lowest-rated defense does not need to carry him.