HOUSTON, TX - Shortly after the Astros completed their World Series Championship Parade yesterday, the finalists for the 2022 BBWAA Awards were announced on MLB Network. The network revealed two Astros finalists for BBWAA Awards in OF Yordan Alvarez (AL Most Valuable Player Award finalist) and RHP Justin Verlander (AL Cy Young Award finalist). The Cy Young winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 16, while the MVP winners will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Last night’s announcement was the first of many seasonal awards to be announced in the coming month. Tomorrow, the Hank Aaron Award will be announced, followed by the Silver Slugger Awards on Thursday. Next week, the BBWAA Award winners will all be announced, including the AL Cy Young winner on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and the MVP Awards on Thursday, Nov. 17. On Friday, Nov. 18, the Heart & Hustle Award and the nominees for the All-MLB Team will be announced.

Other notable offseason awards will follow, including the MLB Comeback Player of the Year (Tuesday, Nov. 22), the MLB Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award (Monday, Nov. 28), the 2022 All-MLB Team (Monday, Dec. 5) and the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award (Tuesday, Dec. 6).

Alvarez, 25, is in contention for his first career MVP Award after an outstanding 2022 season. An All-Star this year, Alvarez hit .306 in 135 games in 2022 with 37 home runs and 97 RBI with a .406 on-base percentage, a .613 slugging percentage and a 1.019 OPS. In the AL, he ranked second in OPS, slugging and on-base percentage while ranking third in home runs and tied for fifth in RBI. Defensively, his seven outfield assists ranked tied for second among AL left fielders, despite playing just 56 games in the outfield.

Verlander, 39, is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, as he took home the honors for the 2011 Tigers and again for the 2019 Astros. In 2022, Verlander had one of the finest seasons of his Hall of Fame-caliber career. In 28 starts, he posted an 18-4 record with a 1.75 ERA, which is by far the lowest ERA of his career. In addition to wins and ERA, Verlander also led the AL in WHIP (0.83), Adjusted ERA+ (220), opponents average (.186) and opponents OPS (.497). His 1.75 ERA is the lowest of any MLB pitcher in a full season since RHP Pedro Martinez posted a 1.74 ERA for Boston in 2000. His .497 opponents OPS is the fourth-lowest of any full season in AL history.