Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer are among the finalists for the American League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards, respectively, as announced Monday night.
Neither is a surprise. Fulmer, whose midseason emergence from Tigers top prospect to front-line starter was a godsend to an inconsistent rotation, is expected to end up in a close vote with Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez for AL Rookie of the Year. Verlander, who led the AL with 254 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP while finishing second with a 3.04 ERA, is part of a wide-open Cy Young race that includes fellow finalists Rick Porcello and Corey Kluber.