Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta wins 2015 National League Cy Young Award

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta was today named the National League Cy Young Award winner by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Arrieta received 17 of the possible 30 first-place votes, 11 second place votes and two third place votes for a total of 169 points. Los Angeles' Zack Greinke placed second with 147 points.
 
Arrieta is only the fifth pitcher in Cubs history to win the Cy Young Award, the first in 23 years since Greg Maddux took home the honor in 1992. Fergie Jenkins (1971), Bruce Sutter (1979) and Rick Sutcliffe (1984) join Arrieta and Maddux as Cy Young winners in franchise history. 
 
In 2015, Arrieta went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA (45 ER/229.0 IP) in 33 starts, leading the majors in wins and posting the lowest ERA by a Cubs pitcher in 96 years (Pete Alexander, 1.72 ERA, 1919). Arrieta went 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA (9 ER/107.1 IP) in 15 starts after the All-Star Break, the lowest ERA in the second half of a season since the All-Star Game was instituted in 1933. He went 11-0 with a 0.41 ERA (4 ER/88.1 IP) in his final 12 starts beginning August 4 to win N.L. Pitcher of the Month honors in August and September. The 0.41 ERA is the lowest post-August 1 mark since ERA became an official statistic.
 
Arrieta became only the fifth pitcher to have at least 22 wins with no more than six losses and an ERA under 2.00 since the ERA became an official statistic, joining Sandy Koufax (1963), Denny McLain (1968), Ron Guidry (1978) and Dwight Gooden (1985). Arrieta also became the first pitcher in major league history to close a campaign with 20-consecutive quality starts. He also set a Wrigley Field record by finishing the year with a 40.2 scoreless innings streak.
 
On August 30 at Dodger Stadium, Arrieta tossed his first-career no-hitter with a 2-0 victory against Los Angeles. Arrieta struck out 12 and walked only one batter.