There was a time when winning a Cy Young Award seemed to require one thing above almost everything else: winning a lot of games. That’s no longer the case. Today’s voters have a much bigger collection of numbers to consider, and the 2026 winners offer an interesting look at what it takes to become the best pitcher in your league.

On Wednesday, Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler and Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski were named unanimous Cy Young Award winners. All 30 voters in each league put them first on the ballot. That’s pretty convincing. But when you look at their seasons, you begin to see what separates a good starting pitcher from one who becomes the standard everyone else is measured against.

First, a Cy Young Winner Has to Make It Difficult to Score

Schlittler put together an outstanding season in the American League. He finished with a league-leading 1.95 ERA and a 0.919 WHIP over 193.2 innings. He struck out 239 batters while walking just 49.

Those numbers tell us something important. He wasn’t simply overpowering hitters. He also limited baserunners and avoided the walks that can turn an ordinary inning into a difficult one. His ability to work deep into games mattered, too. Nearly 194 innings is a substantial workload, particularly for a pitcher still establishing himself in the major leagues.

Misiorowski was even more impressive in some categories. The Brewers right-hander posted a 1.80 ERA and a remarkable 0.802 WHIP over 174.2 innings. He struck out 252 hitters and issued only 44 walks. He led the majors in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts.

Put those numbers together, and you get a pitcher who was difficult to hit, difficult to reach base against, and capable of missing bats at an extraordinary rate.

Second, a Cy Young Winner Needs More Than One Way to Beat Hitters

This is where the two winners become particularly interesting. Schlittler and Misiorowski didn’t simply produce similar seasons. They showed different ways to dominate a game. Schlittler combined outstanding run prevention with the ability to handle a significant workload. Misiorowski paired exceptional control with even greater strikeout production. Both limited walks, kept runners off base, and made life difficult for opposing hitters.

There is also something to be said for what they meant to their teams. Schlittler emerged as the Yankees’ ace while Gerrit Cole and Max Fried dealt with injuries. Misiorowski gave Milwaukee the frontline starter it needed.

That’s an important part of the Cy Young conversation. A great season isn’t just about collecting impressive numbers. It’s also about becoming the pitcher your team can count on when the game matters.

So, What’s the Cy Young Winning Formula?

If these two unanimous selections tell us anything, it’s that today’s Cy Young winner needs dominance, efficiency, consistency, and durability. Strikeouts matter, but so do limiting walks, keeping runners off base, preventing runs, and becoming the dependable frontline starter his team needs.

Other outstanding pitchers are in the conversation, of course. Toronto’s Dylan Cease finished second in the American League, while Cristopher Sanchez was the National League runner-up. Chris Sale finished third, just one point behind Sanchez.

But Schlittler and Misiorowski left little room for debate in 2026. Both built on promising rookie seasons and took another major step forward. And here’s the fun part for baseball fans: neither pitcher has reached his theoretical prime. If they stay healthy and keep developing, this year’s awards might be the start of something special.

Related: Three Straight Awards: What Makes Pat Murphy So Good at This?