The 2025 AL Cy Young Race is Wide Open

If you love pitching, buckle up. This year’s AL Cy Young race is stacked. We’ve got last year’s champ still doing his thing, some fresh faces lighting it up, and a few veterans throwing like they’re 10 years younger. It’s a tight race that could go in any direction, and we’re here for all of it.

1. Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers

4-2, 2.87 ERA, 79 strikeouts

The reigning AL Cy Young winner remains the favorite to take home the award again in 2025. So far this season, Skubal hasn't quite been as dominant as he was last year, but he's still putting up excellent numbers. It would be extremely difficult to repeat winning the pitching triple crown, which means leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts all in the same season. As the ace of the major league-leading Detroit Tigers, Skubal is a big reason why the team is performing so well. He currently sits second in the AL in strikeouts and has walked only seven batters all season, showing remarkable control on the mound.

2. Max Fried, SP, New York Yankees

6-0, 1.29 ERA, 60 strikeouts

Fried has been everything the Yankees hoped he would be when they signed him to an eight-year, $218 million contract during the offseason. After losing their ace Gerrit Cole to injury, the Yankees looked to Fried to fill that crucial role, and he has delivered in spectacular fashion. With six wins tied for the AL lead and the best ERA in the league, Fried has been a major factor in the Yankees' position as AL East leaders. It's tough to imagine where the team would be without his dominant pitching. He's having the best start to any season in his career and is breathing down Skubal's neck in the Cy Young race.

3. Garrett Crochet, SP, Boston Red Sox

4-3, 1.98 ERA, 78 strikeouts

The Red Sox acquired Crochet during the offseason with high expectations, and so far, they couldn't ask for much more from their new ace. While it has been an up-and-down season for Boston with their 25-26 record, they have relied heavily on Crochet's strong performances. With four wins, a tiny 1.98 ERA, and ranking third in the AL in strikeouts, he should be heavily involved in the Cy Young conversation all year long. His excellent pitching has kept the Red Sox competitive despite their struggles in other areas.

4. Hunter Brown, SP, Houston Astros

6-3, 2.04 ERA, 71 strikeouts

Hunter Brown has officially broken out this season. He's probably the most unexpected name on this list, but Brown has always had the talent to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. He just needed to put all the pieces together, and that's exactly what he's done in 2025. The Astros couldn't be happier with their young star's development. A velocity increase has been a key reason why he's pitching so much better this year. With six wins tied for the AL lead and ranking in the top five in strikeouts, Brown has become a cornerstone of Houston's rotation. The Astros will need their right-hander to continue his impressive rise as they look to improve on their 25-24 record.

5. Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Texas Rangers

4-3, 1.60 ERA, 71 strikeouts

You wouldn't expect a pitcher in his 14th season to be getting better, but that's exactly what 35-year-old Eovaldi is doing. With four wins, the second-best ERA in the AL at 1.60, and ranking in the top five in strikeouts, he's creating a powerful one-two punch at the top of the Rangers' rotation alongside Jacob deGrom. Given how well both pitchers have performed, you might expect Texas to have a better record than their current 25-26 mark. It will be interesting to watch whether Eovaldi can maintain this level of performance over a full season, considering his age and the wear on his arm over his long career. However, at this point in the season, he's definitely right in the thick of this race.

The real action is just beginning. As we head into the summer months, each start becomes more important for these five pitchers. Skubal has the target on his back as the defending champion, but Fried, Crochet, Brown, and Eovaldi aren't backing down. Keep your eyes on this race because it's going to be a wild ride all the way to October.