As Memorial Day is quickly approaching we take a quick look at the top candidates for the National League’s Cy Young Award:

TOP CONTENDERS
Stephen Strasburg, WAS
3-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP; 51/10 K:BB ratio in 44 innings
A year removed from his Tommy John surgery the young right hander has been sensational as the anchor of MLB’s best pitching staff. A possible inning limit could hurt his chances in the long run, but few hurlers in baseball have looked better to this point of the season.

Lance Lynn, STL
6-1, 1.81 ERA, 0.90 WHIP; 44/14 K:BB ratio in 44.2 innings
Lynn was forced into the rotation when Chris Carpenter was shelved to start the year. With Adam Wainwright struggling out of the gate, Lynn has been the ace of the first-place Cardinals’ rotation to this point of the season, cementing his spot as a starter.

Johnny Cueto, CIN
4-0, 1.12 ERA, 0.97 WHIP; 31/8 K:BB ratio in 48.1 innings
If not for poor run support, Cueto could easily have a couple more of victories. Only Ryan Dempster has posted a better ERA since May 1 of last year than Cueto, who has emerged as a legitimate No. 1 starter. If he can survive pitching in Great American Ballpark during the dead heat of summer again he’ll stay in the conversation.

Matt Cain, SF
2-2, 2.28 ERA, 0.74 ERA; 48/9 K:BB ratio in 51.1 innings
His low win total could really take its toll on Cain’s Cy Young chances, but the rest of the numbers are there. He’ll benefit from pitching the majority of his games in the pitcher-friendly ballparks that permeate the NL West. Look for him to pick up the win rate and be a strong candidate by year’s end.

OTHERS TO WATCH
Gio Gonzalez, WAS
Anibal Sanchez, MIA
Brandon Beachy, ATL

DON’T COUNT THEM OUT
Clayton Kershaw, LAD
Cliff Lee, PHI
Roy Halladay, PHI
Zach Greinke, MIL

Fantasy Baseball, MLB nl cy young, 2012 mlb awards, stephen strasburg, lance lynn, johnny cueto, matt cain