Mets ace Jacob deGrom is one of the top contenders to win the 2019 NL Cy Young. If he does, it would give him back-to-back Cy Young awards -- making him the first Met to ever accomplish that feat. Here's where things stand in the race...
Jacob deGrom, Mets
Key stats: 2.51 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 248 K's (11.3 per 9) in 197 IP (30 starts), 6.2 WAR (FanGraphs), 6.3 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Pitched 7.0 shutout innings against the Reds, striking out nine while allowing just four singles on Sept. 20
Next start: Sept. 25 vs. Marlins
Trending: UP, having allowed just one earned runs in 21.0 innings over his last three starts, dropping his WHIP under 1.00 on the season.
Video: Here's why Jacob deGrom should win the Cy Young
Max Scherzer, Nationals
Key stats: 2.81 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 233 K's (12.6 per 9) in 166.1 IP (26 starts), 6.4 WAR (FanGraphs), 6.0 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Allowed five earned runs in 6.2 innings against the Cardinals.
Next start: Sept. 23 vs Phillies
Trending: DOWN, having raised his season ERA to 2.81 from the 2.41 he owned at the start of August.
Mike Soroka, Braves
Key stats: 2.60 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 135 strikeouts (7.1 per 9) in 169.2 IP (28 starts), 3.7 WAR (FanGraphs), 5.7 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Allowed two runs on five hits while walking none and striking out five in 5.0 innings against the Phillies on Sept. 19
Next start: Sept. 25 @ Royals
Trending: DOWN slightly after lasting just 5.0 innings against the Phillies during his most recent start
Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers
Key stats: 2.35 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 148 strikeouts (7.9 per 9) in 168.2 IP (27 starts), 4.4 WAR (FanGraphs), 4.5 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Fired 7.0 shutout innings while allowing two hits, walking none and striking out six on Sept. 14 against the Mets
Next start: Sept. 21 vs. Rockies
Trending: DOWN, as he righted the ship against the Mets and still has the best ERA in the NL
Sonny Gray, Reds
Key stats: 2.80 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 199 strikeouts (10.5 per 9) in 170.1 IP (30 starts), 4.3 WAR (FanGraphs), 5.8 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Last start: Allowed two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out nine in 6.2 IP against the Cubs on Sept. 17
Next start: Sept. 24 vs. Brewers
Trending: EVEN, as he has remained steady while others in the race have excelled lately
Other candidates
Patrick Corbin, Nationals (3.10 ERA, 1.16 WHIP)
Jack Flaherty, Cardinals (3.05 ERA, 1.03 WHIP)
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (3.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP)
Stephen Strasburg is high on the WAR leaderboards, but his 3.49 ERA is likely far off the pace needed to win the award.