Bieber has the tools to win back-to-back Cy Youngs

Cleveland Indians SP Shane Bieber has looked dominant to begin the 2021 season, and NBC Sports EDGE's Drew Silva explains why the hurler could be in line for his second-consecutive Cy Young award.

Video Transcript

DREW SILVA: Shane Bieber was the greatest pitcher in the world last year by most measurements, as he delivered a league best 1.63 ERA and a league high 122 strikeouts in 77 plus innings for Cleveland. This year, unsurprisingly, has brought much of the same. Bieber posted double digit strikeout totals in each of his first three starts to open the 2021 season, including an 11 strikeout performance over nine scoreless innings in a win against the division rival White Sox on April 13.

That left him with a 2.11 ERA, 0.89 with and 35 strikeouts for his first 21 and 1/3 inning. With his fantastic command, an elite curve-ball, two variations of a slider and a pretty good fastball, Bieber has all the tools to become the first back to back American League Cy Young Award winner since Pedro Martinez accomplished that feat in 1999 and 2000. It sure would be nice if the Indians could surround him with just a little more offensive talent, but he'll get his share of wins one way or another. And it's not like awards voters put much value on pitcher wins these days.