For the second year in a row, and the third time in the last four years, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw has won the National League Cy Young Award.
The 26-year-old led the NL in wins (21), ERA (1.77), complete games (6), WHIP (0.857), strikeouts per nine innings (10.8) and ERA+ (197). ERA+ is a pitcher's adjusted earned run average based on the stadium they pitch in. 100 is the average and the higher the number above the average, the better the pitcher's season.
Kershaw was also second in the league in strikeouts (239) and second in opponents batting average (.196).
He also threw his first career no-hitter.
It was one of the most dominant regular seasons in the modern era. I had to specify "regular season" because the year came crashing to an end during the NLDS when the St. Louis Cardinals treated Keshaw like that European rocket "Philae" on the comet it landed on: they caught up to him, planted their feet and took him for a ride. In 12 2/3 innings over two outings, Kershaw gave up 11 earned runs.
Despite that, he could very well be named the league's Most Valuable Player when the award is announced Thursday.
And, it's not until next year that the Texas native starts to collect on his seven-year, $215 million contract.
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At the rate Kershaw's going, the Dodgers may have gotten him on the cheap.
