In my mind, the American League CY Young was locked up when May turned to June and Kansas City’s Zack Greinke was dominating everyone. However, who is most deserving is not always the one who wins. The Royals started out 18-11 and everyone was drinking the Royal blue Kool-Aid. Watch MLB Tonight and Dan Plesac is still being teased about liking the Royals. Greinke was a big reason why. But when the temperatures started to rise, the Royals got cold and began to fall into their familiar place in the American League Central standings-last.

Is it Greinke’s fault he pitches for a last-place team, receives the lowest amount of run support in the league, and his bullpen usually implodes every time he exits? Yet he still has the lowest ERA in baseball (2.08). If he has an off-day and gives up 3 runs or more, he is guaranteed a loss. He has 8 no-decisions in which he gave up less than 3 runs in those starts. I’ve heard people say that he pitches in the AL Central and hasn’t faced the mighty AL East until last night in his start against the Red Sox (6IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, 5K). C.C. Sabathia pitches for the NY Yankees and faces the mighty AL East. However, he is 4-1 against the last place Baltimore Orioles and has more innings pitched against the O’s than any other team. Pitching is pitching no matter what lineup you face and his numbers are better than the rest.

In the first half, the best two pitchers in the AL were Greinke and Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. Halladay has been so good that everyone wanted him at the trade deadline, but no one wanted to give up their farm system to get him. However, Halladay hasn’t been great since the rumors died off and he remained a member of the Blue Jays. Whether his struggles are mental or just wearing down, Halladay has struggled, especially against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he lost again on 9/20 after giving up 10 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings. Yes, Halladay has pitched against top teams, especially in his last 10 starts where he has faced the Yankees (2-1), Red Sox (0-2), and Twins (0-1) and threw 9 innings in 3 of those starts. But Halladay hasn’t seemed like his dominant self in the second half.

C.C. Sabathia of the NY Yankees has been a horse for the first-place Yankees, especially since the starting rotation has been in disarray with AJ Burnett’s inconsistencies, the “Joba Rules”, and the short starts of Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin. Everyone remembers Sabathia’s heroics last year for the Milwaukee Brewers, though he wore out in the playoffs. Sabathia has won 8 of his last 10 starts, but only beat Boston that is in playoff contention or over .500. Sabathia also receives a ton of run support with the Yankees offense being one of the best. On 8/20, Sabathia beat the Chicago White Sox but gave up 10 hits and 5 runs in 7 innings. Sabathia can struggle, yet still win the game.

Who should win: Zack Greinke, KC Royals

216.1 IP           15-8     2.08 ERA(leads AL)    229 K/47 BB

6 CG/ 3 SHO   .228 AVG        11 HR allowed

Who will win: Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays

221 IP(leads AL)         15-10               3.01 ERA         193 K/33 BB

7 CG/2 SHO(leads AL)                        22 HR allowed             .263 AVG

Receives 5.99 runs/game

OR

C.C. Sabathia, NY Yankees

220.1 IP           18-7(leads AL)            3.31 ERA         186 K/60 BB

2 CG/1 SHO    .232 AVG        18 HR allowed Receives 7.97 runs/game

Sleepers: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

216.1 IP          16-5                 2.45 ERA        196 K/64 BB

2 CG/1 SHO   .229 AVG       14 HR allowed  Receives 5.62 runs/game

Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox

201.1 IP          15-6                 3.80 ERA        187 K/51 BB

4 CG/2 SHO   .236 AVG       25 HR allowed

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

217.1 IP          16-9                 3.44 ERA        245 K/59 BB(leads AL)

3 CG/1 SHO   .242 AVG       20 HR allowed  Receives 6.09 runs/game

Scott Feldman, Texas Rangers

176.2 IP          17-5(12 road wins)      3.62 ERA        104 K/56 BB

0 CG/ 0 SHO  .241 AVG       17 HR allowed

*stats as of 9/23/09 from MLB.com