Bauer a finalist for NL Cy Young Award
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CINCINNATI -- Reds starting pitcher Trevor Bauer was revealed as a top-three finalist on Monday for the 2020 National League Cy Young Award. If he were to earn the honor, Bauer would become the first Cincinnati pitcher to win the award.
Bauer was joined by Cubs ace Yu Darvish and Jacob deGrom from the Mets. Part of next weekĄŻs awards determined by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, the Cy Young Award winners will be announced on Nov. 11. Voting was completed at the end of the regular season.
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In 11 starts and 73 innings during the shortened 2020 season, Bauer was 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA, 276 ERA+ and 100 strikeouts.
Bauer, 29, led the NL in ERA, WHIP (0.79), opponentsĄŻ batting average (.159), fewest hits per nine innings (5.06), shutouts (2) and complete games (2). He ranked second in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings (12.33).
Over his final five starts of the season, Bauer helped get the Reds into the postseason as he went 2-2 with a 1.29 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 35 innings. During his final outing, on Sept. 23 vs. the Brewers, he allowed one earned run and four hits over eight innings with one walk and 12 strikeouts for a 6-1 victory.
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The Reds acquired Bauer from Cleveland during a three-team trade on July 31, 2019. He posted a 6.39 ERA in his 10 starts for Cincinnati last season before turning in a stellar 2020 campaign amid the shortened schedule and pandemic.
After the World Series last week, Bauer became a first-time free agent. The Reds gave him the $18.9 million qualifying offer on Sunday. He has until Nov. 11 to accept or decline -- the same night the right-hander will learn if he is a Cy Young Award winner.