A pair of star hurlers turned in their finest months on the mound this season, as Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale and D-backs right-hander Zack Greinke were named American League and National League Pitchers of the Month for July on Thursday.
Sale, who has finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting in each of the past five seasons, may finally be on track to win that honor, particularly after posting a 0.36 ERA over four July starts, surrendering just one run in 25 innings pitched. The lanky southpaw struck out 43 of the 96 batters he faced, walking only four before going on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation.

Sale has won two consecutive AL Pitcher of the Month Awards, and has four in his career (also May 2012 and June 2015).
In the NL, Greinke was dominant, posting a 1.60 ERA in five starts to help Arizona remain atop a very competitive NL West division. Over those five outings, the right-hander struck out 35 and walked only five. At age 34, Greinke is enjoying his best season since his three-year stretch with the Dodgers from 2013-15, when he had a 2.30 ERA.

The Pitcher of the Month Award is the third of Greinke's career, and first since August 2013 (the other was for April 2009, when he pitched for the Royals).