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5 Reasons Why Clayton Kershaw Should Win 2014 NL Cy Young Award

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By @RoKnowsDFS

5 Reasons Why Clayton Kershaw Should Win 2014 NL Cy Young Award

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Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals and Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds both had excellent 2014 campaigns. Both of them were 20-game winners with ERAs under 2.50. Unfortunately for them, Clayton Kershaw exists, and his incredible 2014 season makes their attempts at winning the NL Cy Young Award seem futile at best. Here are the top five reasons why Kershaw will run away with the award.

5. He Is Warren Spahn Award Winner For Second Straight Year

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5. He Is Warren Spahn Award Winner For Second Straight Year

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The Warren Spahn Award is given to the best left-handed pitcher in MLB for that season. Previous multiple-time winners include former Cy Young Award winners C.C. Sabathia, Johan Santana and the great Randy Johnson. Kershaw was already a multiple-time winner before winning this award for a third time this season. At age 26, Kershaw seems poised to break Johnson's record of four Warren Spahn awards.

4. He Ranked 7th In MLB and 2nd In AL For Strikeouts

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4. He Ranked 7th In MLB and 2nd In AL For Strikeouts

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When you consider the fact that Kershaw's 239 strikeouts in only 198.1 innings pitched had him ranked seventh in MLB and second in the American League, it becomes clear that he could easily led the majors in Ks. He missed about five to six potential starts and, if he pitched in those games, he would have finished with about 305 strikeouts. This would have won him the pitching Triple Crown by leading in ERA, Wins and Ks.

3. Finished With a 21-3 Record In Only 27 Starts

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3. Finished With a 21-3 Record In Only 27 Starts

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Kershaw led MLB in wins with 21 despite missing six starts due to injury. Considering the fact that Johnny Cueto and Adam Wainwright finished with one less win while having six more starts, it's clear that Kershaw is even more superior to them than originally perceived. Some may argue that Kershaw's wins had more to do with the run support he received. While he did receive better run support, he was also the better pitcher as proven by the stats.

2. Pitched 6 CGs With 2 Shutouts, Including a No-Hitter

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2. Pitched 6 CGs With 2 Shutouts, Including a No-Hitter

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Out of his 21 victories, Kershaw pitched a complete game six times to lead MLB in that category. Out of those six complete games, he recorded two shutouts including an historic no-hitter on June 18. His no-hitter was the first one in MLB history where the pitcher recorded 15 strikeouts while walking zero batters. Not even the legendary Nolan Ryan has accomplished such a feat when it comes walking zero batters in a no-hitter.

1. Led MLB in Wins, ERA and WHIP

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1. Led MLB in Wins, ERA and WHIP

clayton kershaw los angeles dodgers sp pitcher
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With a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 21 wins, Kershaw led MLB in those categories. While the difference in wins isn't as drastic since he beat out Wainwright and Cueto by one, his ERA set him far apart from the rest of the elite. The second-best ERA for 2014 was Felix Hernandez's 2.14, and he is most likely going to win the AL Cy Young Award. To sum it all up, there is absolutely no reason for Clayton Kershaw not to win the NL Cy Young Award this year.

Roje Smith is a Fantasy Sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RoKnowsDFS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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