Red Sox Ace Finishes Runner-Up In Tight AL Cy Young Race

Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet had his best season yet in 2025, but it wasn’t quite enough to prevent Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal from winning another American League Cy Young Award.

Crochet’s stellar campaign made things interesting, but Skubal still captured his second straight AL Cy Young fairly easily. After winning the award unanimously in 2024, Skubal received 26 of 30 possible first-place votes this time around, with the other four going to Crochet.

Crochet received 26 second-place votes, with the other four going to Skubal. Both finished first or second on every ballot, so it truly was a two-horse race.

Skubal became the first AL pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs since Pedro Martinez did so in 1999 and 2000 for the Red Sox.

Despite Crochet’s brilliance and consistency, voters ultimately favored Skubal, who improved in several categories compared to 2024. He led the AL in WAR, ERA and FIP for the second year in a row. He also led the Major Leagues in WHP, walk rate and K/BB ratio.

Crochet had a fantastic season in his own right, leading the AL in innings, strikeouts, and K/9 rate in his first season with the Red Sox. In a different year, he probably would have taken home the hardware, but Skubal was probably a hair better.

Meanwhile, Crochet’s teammate Aroldis Chapman finished seventh after earning four fifth-place votes. He was the only reliever in either league to receive votes and had the best finish of his career after flirting with a sub-1 ERA for a while, ultimately settling at 1.17.

Fortunately for Boston, both pitchers will be back next year after signing contract extensions this season.