MLB awards 2016: Rick Porcello edges Justin Verlander in tight AL Cy Young vote

Alec Brzezinski

MLB awards 2016: Rick Porcello edges Justin Verlander in tight AL Cy Young vote image

Rick Porcello was named the American League Cy Young Award winner Wednesday after leading the majors with 22 wins in the regular season. Porcello narrowly beat out former Tigers teammate Justin Verlander, who was left off two voters' ballots.

Porcello (137) edged Verlander (132) by just five points. Verlander had 14 first-place votes to Porcello's eight, but Porcello's 18 second-place votes helped him claim the award. It was the narrowest margin to decide the AL winner since David Price beat Verlander by four points in 2012.

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In voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, two voters — Fred Goodall of The Associated Press and Bill Chastain of MLB.com, both of whom cover the Rays — left Verlander off their ballots completely. Each voter listed their top five pitchers.

Indians ace Corey Kluber finished third with 98 points and Orioles closer Zach Britton came in fourth with 72 points.

Porcello finished the season 22-4 over 223 innings with a 3.15 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Though he has never made an All-Star roster, Porcello earned the award in part by leading the majors on strikeout-to-walk ratio (189:32).

Porcello became the seventh Red Sox pitcher to win the Cy Young, which is the most by any AL team.

Alec Brzezinski