Leading candidates:
Porcello: 223.0 ip, 22-4, 3.15 era, 1.01 whip, 189 k, 5.1 war
Kluber: 215.0 ip, 18-9, 3.14 era, 1.06 whip, 227 k, 6.5 war
Verlander: 220.2 ip, 16-8, 3.10 era, 1.00 whip, 246 k, 6.3 war
Happ: 188.2 ip, 20-4, 3.20 era, 1.16 whip, 162 k, 4.2 war
Sale: 221.2 ip, 17-9, 3.21 era, 1.03 whip, 227 k, 5.2 war
Hamels: 200.2 ip, 15-5, 3.32 era, 1.31 whip, 200 k, 5.0 war
Britton: 65.1 ip, 2-1, 0.55 era, 0.83 whip, 71 k, 4.2 war
It's amazing that Britton's war is only 0.9 less than Porcello's, despite pitching 157.2 fewer innings.
It's a very interesting race. Hope the Sox can bludgeon Happ today to knock him out of the race. I don't see why Sale should be considered above Porcello. His era is worse than Porcello's, his record is much worse, his whip is worse, he's not pitching in high pressure, high leverage games, and his war is just 0.1 better - not enough to overcome everything else. The K advantage is significant, but really, when all is said and done, if you get guys out, you get them out, period.