Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes capped an impressive breakout 2021 season by taking home the NL Cy Young Award on Wednesday, finishing ahead of finalists Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer.
Burnes narrowly edged Wheeler for the award, earning 151 points to Wheeler's 141. Both received 12 first-place votes. Scherzer earned the other six first-place votes.
Burnes finished 2021 with an MLB-low 2.43 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 234 strikeouts in 167 innings pitched across 28 games. The 27-year-old set a major league record by beginning the season with 58 strikeouts without a walk and in August tied a record by striking out 10 straight in a game against the Chicago Cubs.