MLB announced the 2023 Cy Young finalists, and SF Giants ace Logan Webb was among the trio of finalists in the National League. The award will go to Webb, Padres ace Blake Snell, or Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen. While the final voting tally has not been released, one thing is clear, the Cy Young will be going to a top pitcher in the National League West.
Webb is not expected to win the award, but he sure built an impressive case for himself over the course of the season. Webb recorded a 3.25 ERA (3.16 FIP) in a league-leading 216 innings pitched (33 starts) with 194 strikeouts and 34 walks. He also completed two complete games, including a nine-inning shutout.
Snell is considered by most to be the current favorite to win the award. He finished the season with a league-best 2.25 ERA (3.44 FIP) and 234 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched (32 starts). Gallen racked up 220 strikeouts in 210 innings pitched (34 starts) with a 3.47 ERA (3.27 FIP).
The case for Webb centers around his workload and peripherals. He led the league in innings despite skipping his final start of the season as the Giants prioritized giving young players opportunities after they were eliminated from the playoffs. While Webb is not an overpowering strikeout pitcher, he still had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the league despite consistently working deep into games.
Snell fans will lean on his significantly better ERA, but Webb fans will point to peripherals and ERA estimators. While Snell finished 36 fewer innings than Webb, he led the league in walks (99) and had a worse xERA (3.77 to 3.66), FIP, and xFIP (3.62 to 2.95) than Webb.
Regardless of whether he wins the 2023 NL Cy Young or not, Webb has further solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in MLB. Still only 26, and under contract with the SF Giants for the next five years, Logan Webb hopes to lead the team back to championship glory.
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