In trying on the winners of the 2025 Cy Younger Awards — Tarik Skubal of the Tigers and Paul Skenes of the Pirates — you’ll be able to’t assist however wander into the long run. The muse is in place for these two aces to be all-time greats. 

This comes proper on the time when the best pitchers from the earlier era are on their final legs. Clayton Kershaw has retired, Justin Verlander is 42 years previous and Max Scherzer is 41. 

The checklist of pitchers in MLB historical past with at the least three Cy Youngs is not lengthy, however all three of these guys are on it, together with Roger Clemens (who gained seven), Randy Johnson (5), Greg Maddux (4), Steve Carlton (4), Jim Palmer, Tom Seaver, Sandy Koufax and Pedro Martinez.

Skubal this season simply turned the primary pitcher on the American League aspect to win back-to-back Cy Youngs since Martinez.

Tarik Skubal wins 2025 American League Cy Younger: Tigers ace takes dwelling award for second straight 12 months

Dayn Perry

It’s kind of of a altering of the guard, proper? Skubal and Skenes are the current and the way forward for elite-tier aces. The probabilities of them becoming a member of Verlander, Scherzer and Kershaw with three Cy Youngs appear fairly respectable. 

Skubal can be 29 years previous subsequent season. Since his return from flexor tendon surgical procedure on his elbow in 2023, he is gone 38-13 with a 2.39 ERA (175 ERA+), 0.90 WHIP and 571 strikeouts towards solely 82 walks in 467 ⅔ innings. There is not actually a lot cause to imagine he’ll decelerate throughout the subsequent few years. He hasn’t been run into the bottom with extreme workload, he is an enormous, robust man and his stuff is electrical. 

Certain, there may be robust competitors in Garrett Crochet, however — assuming the Tigers both preserve Skubal or commerce him to an AL workforce — as issues stand proper now, Skubal is the favourite to win the Cy Younger once more subsequent 12 months and possibly the 12 months after that. 

It is truthful to say Skubal is the very best pitcher on the planet proper now.

If we have been betting on which pitcher will win essentially the most Cy Youngs transferring ahead, nevertheless, Skenes needs to be the play. 

Skenes would not flip 24 years previous till subsequent Could. He posted a 1.96 ERA in 23 begins as a rookie. He took the ball 32 occasions this 12 months and labored 187 ⅔ innings, pitching to a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 216 strikeouts towards 42 walks. He is larger and stronger than Skubal, arguably with higher stuff. It is in all probability thrown round an excessive amount of in sports activities, however that previous cliché that the sky is the restrict? Yeah, that is simply the case right here. 

Paul Skenes wins 2025 Nationwide League Cy Younger award: Pirates ace takes dwelling honors in simply second MLB season

Dayn Perry

Are you aware what number of pitchers already had two sub-2.00 ERA seasons beneath their belt — with at the least 130 innings pitched — earlier than they turned 25 in trendy (1901-present) MLB historical past? Solely 5. Considered one of them, Walter Johnson, did it 4 occasions and is likely one of the biggest statistical pitchers in historical past. There are three others from the Deadball Period in Ed Reulbach, Ernie Shore and Smoky Joe Wooden. After which there’s Paul Skenes. And he has one other 12 months to spare! He might do it for a 3rd time subsequent 12 months. 

Take be aware, once more, that we’re having to go all the best way again to the Deadball Period. ERA+ is a stat that adjusts for period and ballpark situations. By means of age 24, amongst beginning pitchers with at the least 200 innings, this is the very best ever in ERA+: 

1. Skenes, 215 (which means he is 115% higher than common at conserving runs off the board)
2. Invoice Foster, 193
3. Reulbach, 174
4. Jeff Tesreau, 173
5. Dave Brown, 169

Walter Johnson’s ERA+ was 165. Roger Clemens via age 24 had a 3.08 ERA and 141 ERA+ alongside together with his two Cy Youngs and and MVP. Dwight Gooden via age 24 had a 2.64 ERA and 132 ERA+. Kershaw had a 2.79 ERA and 138 ERA+. 

When it comes to run prevention on a fee foundation, Skenes would not simply have a superb basis. He arguably has the very best we have ever seen. 

Skubal within the final two years has a 2.30 ERA and 180 ERA+. He is clearly a bit older than Skenes and is a bit behind on racking up counting stats if we’re speaking in regards to the Corridor of Fame or one thing, however he is offered himself with an extended runaway right here. He’ll look to win his third straight Cy Younger subsequent 12 months. The one pitchers to ever win three straight Cy Youngs are Maddux and Randy Johnson, each of whom did it 4 occasions in a row. 

Skubal is nice sufficient to drag that off. And Skenes is nice sufficient to complete his profession with extra Cy Youngs than Skubal. The winners of the 2025 Cy Youngs have set themselves up for a run of greatness.