Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw maintained his firm grip on the National League Cy Young Award, winning for the third time on Wednesday, and Cleveland Indians right-hander Corey Kluber claimed his first American League Cy Young.
Kershaw was the first unanimous choice in the voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America since Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander in 2011. The left-hander previously won the award in 2011 and 2013.
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto finished second and St. Louis Cardinals Adam Wainwright was third in the NL balloting.
Kershaw posted a 21-3 record with a 1.77 ERA for the NL West champion Dodgers this season and had just 31 walks and 239 strikeouts in 198 1/3 innings despite missing more than a month with a back injury. His wins total and ERA were the best in the major leagues.
Among Kershaw’s season highlights was his first career no-hitter on June 18 against the Colorado Rockies. In that game, he did not walk a batter and had 15 strikeouts.
The 26-year-old Kershaw joins Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton, Greg Maddux, Sandy Koufax, Pedro Martinez, Jim Palmer and Tom Seaver as the only three-time Cy Young winners.
Kluber edged Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in the AL voting. The Indians pitcher received 17 of 30 first-place votes and Hernandez claimed the other 13.
Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale finished third.
Kluber posted an 18-9 record with a 2.44 ERA in 34 starts for the Indians this season. He led the AL in wins and starts and was second in strikeouts with 268 and third in ERA and innings pitched (235 2/3).
Kluber becomes the fourth Indians pitcher to win the Cy Young. He follows Gaylord Perry (1972), CC Sabathia (2007) and Cliff Lee (2008).