More than halfway through the 2025 MLB season, the competition for offseason awards is intensifying. The race for the National League Cy Young Award has seen a shift, with Phillies ace Zack Wheeler surpassing the Pirates’ Paul Skenes in MLB.com’s latest poll. Despite Wheeler receiving more first-place votes, their overall vote totals remain close: 216 for Wheeler and 209 for Skenes.
In the American League, Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal continues to lead decisively in the Cy Young balloting. The voting suggests that experts see the NL as having more pitching depth compared to the AL, with 17 pitchers receiving at least one vote in the NL versus eight in the AL.
Voters ranked their top five picks in each league using a point system. Here are some highlights:
**American League:**
1. Tarik Skubal of the Tigers received 47 first-place votes and leads in several pitching categories.
2. Hunter Brown of the Astros has emerged as a standout performer this season.
3. Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox has delivered strong performances since joining from the White Sox.
4. Max Fried’s first season with the Yankees has been successful.
5. Jacob deGrom’s return to form with the Rangers is notable after past injuries.
**National League:**
1. Zack Wheeler of the Phillies leads with 27 first-place votes and impressive statistics.
2. Paul Skenes of the Pirates remains a strong contender despite his drop to second place.
3. Logan Webb of the Giants continues to perform consistently well.
4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers shows improvement over last season.
5. MacKenzie Gore of the Nationals ranks high in strikeouts.
Other pitchers also received votes, indicating a competitive field across both leagues.
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