Max Fried Leads AL Cy Young Pack

With 20% of the 2026 season behind them, the Cy Young contest has become highly unpredictable. Tarik Skubal’s indefinite surgery and the injury‑plagued status of Garrett Crochet and Hunter Brown have cleared the way for Yankees’ lefty Max Fried to emerge as the AL leader. Fried, who finished fourth in last year’s vote, has posted a 6‑3 record, a 1.70 ERA, 121 strikeouts and 215 innings, leading MLB in innings pitched and maintaining a low WHIP. In the National League, Shohei Ohtani is the standout, while the defending winner Paul Skenes struggles with a 0‑3 record and a low fWAR. The expanded field leaves room for several intriguing pitchers to vie for the award. milkshake.it.com