Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel was named the 2015 Warren Spahn Award winner, which is given annually to best left-handed pitcher in the Majors.
The award is presented by the Oklahoma Sports Council in the home state of Spahn, a Hall of Famer who won 363 games in his 21-year career.
Keuchel’s win snaps Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw’s two-year streak of being anointed the best southpaw in baseball.
The Spahn Award ranks lefties on wins, strikeouts and ERA. Based on that, Kershaw edged Keuchel in all but one category:
Kershaw: 16 wins, 301 strikeouts, 2.13 ERA
Keuchel: 20 wins, 216 strikeouts, 2.48 ERA
Kershaw has won the award three times in his career — 2011, 2013 and 2014 — which are seasons in which he also took home the National League Cy Young Award.
In 2013, Kershaw tied for third among lefties with 16 wins, led with a 1.83 ERA, and ranked first with 232 strikeouts. He was first in 2014 with 21 wins and a 1.77 ERA, and second to David Price’s 271 strikeouts with 239.
Kershaw’s 300-strikeout season in 2015 was the first since 2002. Among left-handers, he was followed in the category by Chris Sale (274 strikeouts), Madison Bumgarner (234), Price (225), then Keuchel (216) to round out the top five.
While traditional statistics suggests the Dodgers’ left-handed ace may not have had a season that’s come to be expected, Kershaw dominated all pitchers when looking at other measures.
He ranked first in FIP (1.99), xFIP (2.09), SIERA (2.24), strikeout percentage (33.8 percent), strikeout-to-walk ratio (29.1 percent) and innings pitched (232.2).
Kershaw also tied for the MLB lead with four complete games and three shutouts; Keuchel finished the season with three and two, respectively.
Both Kershaw and Keuchel are finalists in their respective leagues for the Cy Young this year. Keuchel won a second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award and was named the American League Outstanding Pitcher by his peers.
The Spahn Award has been given out since 1999. Aside from Kershaw, previous winners are Gio Gonzalez (2012), Price (2010), CC Sabathia (2007–2009), Johan Santana (2004, 2006), Dontrelle Willis (2005), Andy Pettitte (2003) and Randy Johnson (1999–2002).
