2026 Awards

There's an NL MVP thread already...Schlittler and Cease are separated by one-tenth of a game on both BRef and Fangraphs (Schlittler ahead on both):

CS - 2.09, 163.2 IP, 0.971 WHIP, 4.79 K/BB, 201 ERA+, 2.62 FIP, 5.9 bWAR, 5.2 fWAR
DS - 2.33, 150.1 IP, 1.051 WHIP, 3.34 K/BB, 189 ERA+, 2.42 FIP, 5.8 bWAR, 5.1 fWAR

I set out to make the case for Cease, but I'm actually surprised Schlittler isn't further ahead--more innings, and he leads in every one of those categories. If Cease didn't walk so many batters (just under 4 a game), he'd be an easy call.

Interesting to me that the awards seem dominated by RHP this year after being disproportionally dominated by LHP the past few seasons.

Schlittler is REALLY good. It’s notable also that Cease is second in the CAREER k/9 list (Minimum of 1000 IP), his health is really incredible given that he’s a workhorse with a sky high k rate.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_nine_career.shtml

There was actually a brief moment when Robbie Ray was with the Jays when he lead in career K/9...Cease gave up a HR to the second batter last night, then didn't give up another hit till the 5th. He's danced around a no-hitter probably four or five times this year.

The other thread:

2026 National League (NL) MVP race

One other key category that Cease wins going away: he just sold a painting for $16,000.

https://www.mlb.com/news/dylan-cease-artwork-blue-jays-sportsnet-auction

Who is their pitching coach?

Also notable: Cease and Schlittler are also famous cat guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Xa1XtYhEI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtzE04CrElk

Cease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQsQnssQBGQ

Who is their pitching coach?

The Jays? Pete Walker--who was the starting pitcher in 2003 for Delgado's 4-HR game.

Schlittler is great, his walks have been a concern lately which could potentially narrow the lead he has over Cease at this time, but it could just be a blip.

Depending upon how much faith the voters put in WAR, this could literally go down to the last start of the season--one guy pitches great, the other guy makes an early exit, and that decides it (hopefully on the same day, like yesterday).

(not the thread for it, but the AL race is far tighter and more dynamic: a DH chasing the triple crown (5.5), a superstar SS (5.7) and a rookie utility infielder (5.7) all knotted together with ~39 games left.

― imperial frfr (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, August 18, 2026 10:07 AM (one week ago)

Yordan's cooled down a bit, so I think this is BWJr's to lose. McGonigle having an insane season though, no doubt ROY.

I still think voters will throw out WAR for a Triple Crown, especially if making the post-season figures in.

I put some $$ down on Yordan to win MVP when he was behind Judge and Witt, so am cheering pretty hard for him to get it. And agree, as a DH up against two great defenders, winning the triple crown and making the playoffs will override a disadvantage in WAR.

PCA is lapping the field on Fangraphs: 9.5 fWAR to Shohei's 6.5 and Sanchez's 5.9. And Sale has almost pulled even to Sanchez and Miz for Cy Young (the three are within 0.2 of a game).

N.L. Cy Young is something else...Going into today (fWAR):

Sanchez - 5.9
Miz - 5.6
Sale - 5.4
Luzardo - 5.0

And Luzardo just finished a CG, 2-hit shutout (12 K, 1 BB).

PCA went 2-4 with a homer today, up to 9.9 fWAR. he could sit out the rest of the season and it’d be a walk

bWAR NL pitching leaders, just for comparison:
Sánchez 7.8
Luzardo 5.6
Rodríguez 5.4!!
Sale 5.3
Misiorowski 5.2

this could go so many ways right now...

ERA:
Misiorowski 1.97
Sale 2.10
Rodríguez 2.55
Sánchez 2.58

ERA+:
Misiorowski 207
Sale 201
Sánchez 176
Rodríguez 163

FIP:
Sale 2.26
Misiorowski 2.27
Sánchez 2.60
Luzardo 2.86

WPA:
Sánchez 4.4
Miller 4.0
Misiorowski 3.5
Rodríguez 3.5

Ks:
Misiorowski 227
Luzardo 209
Sánchez 207
Cavalli 185
Sale 184

wins (only included because there are still some dinosaurs out there voting on these things:
Sánchez 16
Burns 15
Rodríguez 15
Ashcraft 14
Misiorowski 14
Sale 14

i feel like Miz has the advantage tho (for cy young, not MVP). we'll see how many innings he gets down the stretch tho

and the jays/Cease seem determined to push the AL Cy needle towards Schlittler today