Does Red Sox’s Garrett Crochet Have Cy Young Edge Vs. Tigers’ Tarik Skubal?

Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet tied his season high with 12 strikeouts in Sunday’s 6-4 win over the New York Yankees. The left-hander prevented the Yankees from sweeping the weekend series at Fenway Park, and in doing so, may have put himself in the driver’s seat for the American League Cy Young Award.

His main competition is Detroit Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal, who is the reigning Cy Young winner. But Skubal struggled in his previous start Friday, giving up four runs in three and one-third innings pitched. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Skubal ” left his start in the fourth inning with discomfort near his left rib cage … (but) imaging came back clean and (Skubal) plans on making his next scheduled start, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.”

The AL Cy Young race is tight, and if Skubal struggles down the stretch or is forced to miss a start, the award could be Crochet’s to lose. The Red Sox southpaw has double-digit strikeouts in three of his last five starts and leads the majors with 240 strikeouts. Here’s how he and Skubal match up by the numbers and their AL ranks:

• Strikeouts: Crochet, 1st (240); Skubal 2nd (224)

• Wins: Crochet, t-2nd (16); Skubal, t-6th (13)

• ERA: Skubal, 1st (2.26); Crochet, 3rd (2.63)

• Innings: Crochet, 1st (191.1); Skubal, 2md (183.1)

• K/9: Crochet, 1st (11.3); Skubal, 2nd (11.0)

• WAR: Skubal, 1st (6.2); Crochet, 3rd (5.7)

• WHIP: Skubal, 1st (0.86); Crochet. 7th (1.05)

Crochet is trying to become the first Red Sox pitcher to win the Cy Young Award since Rick Porcello in 2016.

MLB.com reports Crochet is just the fourth Red Sox pitcher to record at least 200 strikeouts in a season, joining Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, Chris Sale and Roger Clemens.

Doing a deeper dive, MLB.com’s Ian Browne reports Crochet “joined Chris Sale and Pedro Martinez as the only pitchers in club history with 230+ strikeouts and fewer than 60 runs allowed in at least one 30-outing span.”

The 26-year-old Crochet is slated to make his next start Saturday against the Rays in Tampa, Fla.

Skubal is lined up to take the mound Thursday at home against the Cleveland Guardians.