Mariners Award Campaign: Luis Castillo

"La Piedra" is having a phenomenal season on the mound for the Mariners, but his recognition may extend further than just the Pacific Northwest. Let's take a look at part one of our awards campaign!

Sep 01, 2023

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Mariners’ pitcher Luis Castillo celebrates against the Guardians Thursday evening at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington on March 30, 2023. (Kevin Clark / The Seattle Times) — Kevin Clark/Seattle Times

As he toes the rubber tonight for the Mariners, “La Piedra” is pitching for more than just a playoff birth for the hottest team in baseball. His excellence has put him right in the thick of the Cy Young conversation, but could he win it?

Betting odds suggest Castillo has more than a puncher's chance here, placing him second in the American League. According to DraftKings, Castillo is +230 to win the award, behind New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole at -250. Cole is still a sizeable favorite, but at this point in the season, the sportsbooks have narrowed the field to a two-horse race.

Interestingly enough, Fangraphs WAR rankings tell a different story than the odds suggest. The platform has Castillo ranking eighth in the American League in starting pitcher fWAR, with Cole ranking in sixth. Teammate George Kirby is actually fourth in the metric.

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