Cody Anderson of the Cleveland Indians named the American League Pitcher of the Month for September

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Cody Anderson has been voted the American League Pitcher of the Month for September.

Anderson compiled a 5-0 record with a 1.38 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 39.0 innings pitched over six starts to claim his first career AL Pitcher of the Month Award, and the first for an Indians hurler since Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber won last year for the month of September. Among qualified AL starters for the month, Cody finished first in wins and ERA, and third in innings pitched. Opposing batters hit just .212 off the right-hander and his two home runs allowed were tied for fourth-fewest among AL starters.

A winner of five consecutive decisions to finish off his 2015 campaign, the 25-year-old became the first Major League rookie to win five games in the month of September since Anibal Sanchez went 5-1 for the Florida Marlins in 2006. He is the first AL rookie to do so since Barry Zito went 5-1 for the Oakland A's in 2000. Overall, the Quincy, California native is the first Indians rookie to win seven games since Mitch Talbot earned 10 wins in 2010. Cleveland's 14th round selection in the 2011 MLB Draft finished his first Major League season with a 7-3 record to go along with a 3.05 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 91.1 innings pitched in 15 starts. In the second start of Anderson's award-winning month, the Feather River College product delivered 7.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball to combine with Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen for a shutout of the Detroit Tigers on September 6th. Lowering his cumulative ERA in each start since August 7th, Anderson finished his rookie season with six consecutive quality starts. In his final start of 2015, Anderson recorded his third start with at least 7.0 scoreless innings pitched in a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on September 30th at Progressive Field. Among AL rookie leaders for the 2015 season, Cleveland's young starter finished tied for fifth in wins and fourth in ERA. With an 81-80 record, the Tribe completed its third consecutive season with a record above .500.

Others receiving votes for AL Pitcher of the Month included David Price (5-0, 2.32 ERA, 31.0 IP, 37 SO) and Marcus Stroman (4-0, 1.67 ERA, 27.0 IP, 18 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays; Andrew Miller (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 15.0 IP, 8 SV) of the New York Yankees; Ervin Santana (4-0, 1.75 ERA, 36.0 IP, 34 SO) of the Minnesota Twins; and Drew Smyly (4-0, 2.50 ERA, 36.0 IP, 45 SO) of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The American League Pitcher of the Month, Cody Anderson, will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, for his accomplishment.