Dylan Cease may have just become the new favorite for the American League Cy Young Award.
Yesterday, the Chicago White Sox ace went six innings and allowed just one run, striking out seven batters against the Oakland Athletics.
The White Sox won the game by a final of 4-1, which allowed Cease to pick up his 11th win of the season as he lowered his ERA to 2.01.
In fact, for the second consecutive month, Cease has posted an ERA under 1.
White Sox reporter Chuck Garfien posted on Twitter that Cease is the first White Sox pitcher to have done that with at least 25 innings pitched since 1913.
Dylan Cease is the first White Sox pitcher with consecutive months with an ERA under 1.00 since 1913 (minimum 25 IP)
He has a 2.01 ERA for the season.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) July 31, 2022
Cease Continues Dominance
Cease is inching closer to the top of the American League in ERA.
He trails only Justin Verlander, who has a 1.81 ERA.
He got a leg up on Shane McClanahan, who allowed five runs yesterday.
But more importantly, Cease is turning into an ace and is helping provide some stability in the White Sox rotation.
He’s showing why it was a mistake to not have him on the American League All-Star roster and that he was completely snubbed.
If he keeps pitching like this, then he’ll be a real contender for the AL Cy Young Award at the end of the season.
He has been the ace for the White Sox, who have had to spend a lot of time with guys like Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito on the injured list.
The win yesterday got to White Sox to within two games of first place in the AL Central and 2.5 of the final AL Wild Card spot.
Cease is quickly turning into one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, and he’ll be a major key if the White Sox go on a run.
NEXT: Dylan Cease Is Barely Leading A Tight MLB Race