JV (AL Cy Young), Alvarez (AL MVP) are BBWAA finalists

HOUSTON -- Astros pitcher Justin Verlander and designated hitter/left fielder Yordan Alvarez were named finalists for Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards on Monday. Verlander is one of three finalists for the American League Cy Young Award, and Alvarez is a finalist for the AL Most Valuable Player.

• Here are all the BBWAA Awards finalists

After not pitching in 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Verlander went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA in 28 starts for the Astros, leading MLB starters in ERA and WHIP (0.83) and pacing the AL in wins, opponents’ OPS (.497), opponents’ batting average (.186) and hits per nine innings (5.97). His 1.75 ERA was the lowest by an AL pitcher since Pedro Martinez (1.74) in 2000.

• All-time AL Cy Young Award winners

If Verlander wins, it would be his third AL Cy Young Award. He won it in 2011 with the Tigers and in '19 with the Astros -- his last full healthy season prior to this year. He joins Toronto’s Alek Manoah and Chicago’s Dylan Cease as finalists.

Alvarez joins Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Angels pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani as the finalists for the AL MVP Award. Alvarez was a force in the middle of the Astros' lineup, hitting .306 with a career-high 37 homers and 97 RBIs. In the AL, he ranked second in on-base percentage (.406), slugging percentage (.613) and OPS (1.019), as well as finishing third in homers and fourth in batting average, runs (95) and walks (78). He was the AL Player of the Month in June, when he hit .418 with a 1.346 OPS.

• All-time AL MVP Award winners

The Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year will be announced Nov. 14, Managers of the Year will be announced Nov. 15, Cy Young Awards on Nov. 16 and MVPs on Nov. 17.