Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros and Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs took home the Cy Young awards on Wednesday night.
Keuchel led the Astros to the postseason for the first time since 2005 and Arrieta led the Cubs to their first postseason since 2008.
What made Keuchel so good?
In 2013, Keuchel had a 5.15 ERA in 153â…” innings. But over the next two seasons, he excelled, with a 2.93 ERA in 2014 and a 2.48 ERA in 2015.
What was the key to his success?
Keuchel’s ground ball rate climbed, from 56 percent in 2013 to 65 percent in 2014 and 62 percent in 2015.
The Astros' defense got better behind him. They went from converting 74 percent of grounders into outs in 2013 to 77 percent in 2014 and 78 percent in 2015.
Keuchel’s hard-hit rate sank from 18 percent in 2013 to 11 percent in 2014 and 9 percent in 2015.
Keuchel made his first All-Star game this season, and he didn't just play in the game, he started it. He began his career as an All-Star by setting down Andrew McCutchen, Todd Frazier and Bryce Harper in order.
What made Arrieta so good?
Arrieta was able to beat the best teams in the league on a consistent basis. Against teams that finished .500 or better this season, Arrieta went 12-3 with an MLB-best 1.48 ERA. Moreover, against the top-five teams in the National League in runs (Rockies, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Pirates, Giants), Arrieta had an NL-best 0.90 ERA (Zack Greinke 2.04, Clayton Kershaw 2.92).
He was also impressive on the road. Arrieta made 18 road starts, tied for the third-most in baseball and more than his Cy Young competitors (Kershaw 16, Greinke 15).
He went an MLB-best 13-1 with a 1.60 ERA on the road this season. The last time a pitcher made as many as 18 road starts in a season and had a road ERA as low as Arrieta was in 1968.
On Sunday Night Baseball, in a defining moment, Arrieta threw his first career no-hitter on August 30 at the Dodgers. He became the fourth pitcher in the expansion era to be the first in the majors to 15 wins -- which he did on August 20 - and throw a no-hitter in the same season. He also capped off a month with six wins and a 0.43 ERA.
