Who Will Be the NL Cy Young: Gio Gonzalez or R.A. Dickey?

With the season entering the home stretch, two pitchers have emerged as the clear NL CY favorites: the Mets’ Robert Allen Dickey and the Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez. Earlier in the season, there was talk about Johnny Cueto, Craig Kimbrel, or Matt Cain, but it should be a two-horse race. Most of the arguments in the media have revolved around the two players' wins category. Thankfully, both pitchers have dominated every other category in addition to the high victory total.

Dickey’s story is incredible even outside the realm of sabermetrics – a career year at age 37, a power knuckleballer, and a 20-game winner. He pitches for the basement-dwelling Mets and accounts for nearly a third of their wins and ranks in the top half of six major categories (WHIP, ERA, innings, WAR, Ks, and Ws). With a stat line of 20-6, 2.69 ERA, 222 Ks, and a 1.05 WHIP, he’s definitely worthy.

The Nationals’ “other” ace, Gonzalez is in the midst of a ridiculous campaign. He’s a 21-game winner, the first to the number this season, and the rotation ace for the team with the league’s best record. At just 27, he’s already one of the game’s best but spent most of the year shadowed by Stephen Strasburg. His line: 21-8, 2.89 ERA, 207 Ks, and a 1.13 WHIP, also deserves serious consideration.