The start of the baseball season is near and after a pandemic-shortened 2020 season, it’s challenging to figure out who the best players will be in 2021.
Pitching is still the most critical aspect of baseball requiring the skill and attention to detail shared by some of the best online slot machine games players and gamers. And, just like the best gamers and their backing pool, the best pitchers make a big difference for their teams.
Here are the four leading candidates for the 2021 National League Cy Young award.
4. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mar 7, 2021; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Walker Buehler (21) reacts while on the mound during his start against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Buehler is young and talented. He was outstanding in the playoffs last year, having a 1.89 ERA in four starts. He went 14-4 in 2019 and has outstanding stuff. At age 26, he is just entering his pitching prime.
Buehler has a big advantage pitching for the Dodgers who have one of the deepest and most talented lineups in baseball.
If Buehler stays healthy, the Dodgers are in for one of the biggest jackpot slots in their history. Buehler has the talent and ability to win his first Cy Young this season (another fun fact that sportsbook enthusiasts plan to take advantage of in the coming months)
3. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Feb 23, 2021; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws with a towel during spring training workouts at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young winner having captured the award in 2013, 2016 and 2017. Scherzer is 36 and needs to stay healthy. He led the National League in wins in 2018 and has had a winning record in every season since 2009.
The 6’3” righthander has a good team behind him and the Nationals should be playoff contenders again in 2021.
Scherzer’s experience and savvy should make him a contender for the Cy Young again in 2021 and if he wins a fourth award, he will be in truly elite company.
2. Trevor Bauer, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mar 1, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) waves to the fans after leaving the game in the third inning during a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Moving from Cincinnati to Los Angeles will give Bauer two big advantages. First, he will be playing in a pitcher’s ballpark in Los Angeles after playing in a small stadium in Cincinnati that is considered a launching pad for home runs.
Second, he will get a lot more run support because the Dodgers have one of the deepest and most talented lineups in baseball.
Bauer had 1.73 ERA while pitching in Cincinnati last year. If he pitches just as well in Los Angeles, that number could drop even further.
1. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
Feb 23, 2021; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) participates in workouts during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
deGrom has been the most dominant and consistent pitchers in baseball over the past three years. He won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2018 and 2019 and finished third in the voting in 2020. There is no reason he shouldn’t be a top contender again this season.
The Mets upgraded their lineup so deGrom should get more run support with the addition of Francisco Lindor to a batting order that already features slugger Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto.
deGrom also plays half his games in a pitcher’s ballpark in CitiField which helps keep his ERA low.
With his aggressive style and great mix of pitches, expect deGrom to be a strong contender to win his third Cy Young in the last four years in 2021.
The race for the Cy Young is always exciting and this year should be more interesting than usual with pitchers coming off an abbreviated 2020 season. How will that chance things for them as the season goes on? We shall see as the season progresses.
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