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Nationals ace Max Scherzer wins NL Cy Young
It was another close call.
And once again, Justin Verlander was on the wrong side of the vote.
For the second straight time as an American League Cy Young Award finalist, the Tigers' ace missed out on a second Cy Young Award.
Verlander finished second, bested by ex-Tiger and current Boston Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Verlander received 14-of-30 first-place votes, two second-place votes and five third-place votes for 132 points. Porcello had 137 points.
Verlander, 33, posted a 3.04 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 34 starts this past season, leading the AL in a number of statistical categories, including strikeouts (254), WHIP, and Wins Above Replacement (6.6). He finished second in ERA to Toronto's Aaron Sanchez and second in innings pitched to Boston's David Price.
It was Verlander's fourth time as an AL Cy Young finalist. He won the award in 2011, finished second in 2012 and third in 2009.
In 2012, he fell one first-place vote short of Price in the closest vote in history.
With this year's loss, Verlander continues searching for a second Cy Young Award, which would put him in elite pitching company and certainly bolster his future Hall of Fame resume.
Only 17 pitchers in baseball history have won the Cy Young Award twice. Of the 13 pitchers that were voted on by the BBWAA, 10 have been enshrined in Cooperstown.
In 2016, Verlander had a renaissance year and reaffirmed his spot as one of this generation's greatest pitchers. This past season, finally at full health after a battle back from core muscle surgery during the 2014 offseason, he showed a rejuvenated fastball and more diligent preparation than in the past.
In 23 of his 34 starts, he allowed two or fewer runs. Overall, he led the league with a .207 opponents' batting average against. In short, he looked like the Verlander of yesteryear, a pitcher that many did not believe would resurface.
Former Tiger Max Scherzer was named the National League Cy Young winner, becoming the sixth pitcher to win the award in both leagues.