Previous winners of the award are Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, James Loney, Juan Pierre, Jamey Carroll, Matt Kemp, A.J. Ellis and Clayton Kershaw (who won the previous two years).
Greinke, the All-Star Game starter, leads MLB with a 1.68 ERA, .857 winning percentage, 0.85 WHIP and 29 quality starts. His 18 wins are a career high and his ERA is on pace to be the lowest in the Majors since 1995 (Greg Maddux, 1.63).
He tied a Major League record, also held by Orel Hershiser and Don Drysdale, with six consecutive scoreless starts, including a streak of 45 2/3 scoreless innings.