It could be the first of many for Paul Skenes. And the continuance of an autumn tradition for Tarik Skubal.
Skubal became the first American League pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez in 2000 while Skenes won his first NL plaque in unanimous fashion when winners were announced Nov. 12.
Skenes added a Cy Young plaque to his Rookie of the Year honor a year ago, when he finished third in Cy Young voting. Skubal, meanwhile, claimed unanimous Cy Young honors a year ago, when he won the AL Triple Crown with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts. In 2025, he ceded the strikeout title to Garrett Crochet but shaved his ERA to an AL-best 2.21 and his WHIP to a majors-best 0.89 while still striking out 241.
Skubal received 26 of 30 first-place votes, with four top marks going to Crochet.
For Skenes, it was a clean sweep: He claimed all 30 first-place votes in the NL, the 16th unanimous NL winner and first since Miami’s Sandy Alcantara in 2022. He joins the New York Mets’ Dwight Gooden (1984-85) as the lone pitchers to win top rookie and Cy Young honors in consecutive years.
