While not at all a surprise, Justin Verlander has officially won the American League Cy Young Award for 2011. Verlander has been the favorite since the All-Star break and helped lead the Detroit Tigers to an AL Central Division title and a playoff series win over the New York Yankees.
↵Verlander was 24-5 in 2011 with a 2.40 ERA. Verlander threw 251 innings and tallied 250 strikeouts. His wins, strikeouts and innings pitched led all of baseball this season. Verlander was 3-0 in his three starts against the Indians this season, including a 2-hit shutout against the Tribe on June 14th.
↵Verlander may have his sights set on another award this season as well. Many think Verlander should receive plenty of consideration for the 2011 American League MVP award, though pitchers have long been considered longshots for the award.
↵Verlander becomes the third Detroit Tigers pitcher to win the award. In an ironic twist, both Tigers to win the award previously - Denny McLain in 1968 and Guillermo Hernandez in 1984 - went on to win the MVP Award that same season.
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