Mets ace Jacob deGrom is trying to win his third-straight Cy Young award, a feat that hasn't been achieved since Randy Johnson won his third-straight in 2001 (followed by his fourth-straight in 2002).
Here's where things stand with deGrom and his closest competitors for the award...
Jacob deGrom, Mets
Key stats: 2.14 ERA (1.99 FIP), 0.92 WHIP with 94 K's (13.43 per 9) in 63.0 IP (11 starts), 2.4 WAR (FanGraphs).
Last start: Allowed two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out 14 in 7.0 IP against the Rays on Sept. 21.
Next start: Saturday, Sept. 26 against the Washington Nationals
Trending: UP, as he's taken the lead on strikeouts and K/9, while putting together another deep start with one more left.
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Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs
Key stats: 2.01 ERA (2.22 FIP), 1.00 WHIP with 93 K's (11.0 per 9) in 77.0 IP (12 starts), 3.0 WAR (FanGraphs).
Last start: Threw seven scoreless innings, scattering just three hits while striking out five and walkings one, Friday in Cubs' 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Next start: TBD.
Trending: UP, after firing his second seven-inning shutout of the season, while he bounced back from consecutive nine-hit outings. Darvish's ERA lowered from 2.22 to 2.01.
Max Fried, Atlanta Braves
Key stats: 2.25 ERA (3.10 FIP), 1.09 WHIP with 50 K's (8.0 per 9) in 56.0 IP (11 starts), 1.6 WAR (FanGraphs).
Last start: Allowed two runs on three hits, including two home runs, in one inning of the Braves' 9-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. Fried left the game with an ankle injury after one inning, facing six batters and throwing 22 pitches (11 strikes).
Next start: TBD.
Trending: DOWN, after leaving Wednesday's game against the Marlins with an ankle injury. Fried's ERA jumped from 1.96 to 2.25 after allowing two runs (both earned) in the one inning of an injury-shortened start. His two home runs allowed were the first of the season, after he kept the ball in the park each time through the initial 10 starts.
Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati Reds
Key stats: 1.73 ERA (2.87 FIP), 0.79 WHIP with 100 K's (12.3 per 9) in 73.0 IP (11 starts), 2.5 WAR (FanGraphs).
Last start: Allowed one run on four hits through eight innings, striking out 12 and walking one while throwing 104 pitches (69 strikes) in Reds' 6-1 win over Milwaukee Brewers.
Next start: TBD.
Trending: UP, after lowering ERA and going season-high eight innings. Bauer's 12 strikeouts mark his fifth time fanning double-digit batters in 11 starts, and he did so against a Brewers team that entered Wednesday with the final NL Wild Card spot. Bauer's performance fueled the Reds' victory and knocked the Brewers out of the eighth seed.
Other Contenders
Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers: 2.11 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 13.3 K/9 in 59.2 IP (nine starts)
Zach Davies, San Diego Padres: 2.85 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 8.1 K/9 in 66.1 IP (11 starts).
Dinelson Lamet, Padres: 2.09 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 12.1 K/9 in 69.0 IP (12 starts).
Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks: 2.75 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 10.3 K/9 in 72.0 IP (12 starts).