ORLANDO, Fla. -- Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had his best career showing in the National League Cy Young Award voting, but he finished third behind teammate and winner Max Scherzer, finishing third behind him and Los Angeles' Clayton Kershaw.
Strasburg had 81 points, including one second-place vote and 23 third-place votes, to finish behind Scherzer (201) and Kershaw (126). The results were announced on MLB Network on Wednesday night.

The Nationals were built on the strength of their rotation, and dual aces were a large reason they were so successful in 2017. So it is fitting that both Scherzer and Strasburg were finalists. Nationals left-hander Giovany Gonzalez finished sixth.
"Maxie, congratulations, you earned it," Strasburg said to Scherzer on MLB Network after the announcement. "It was really fun to watch and can't wait to get back out here in Spring Training."
:: NL Cy Young Award voting totals ::
This is the highest Strasburg has finished in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award during his eight-year career, due in large part to his strong finish to the season when he was perhaps the most dominant pitcher in baseball.
Strasburg finished with a 0.86 ERA after the All-Star break, the lowest mark in the Majors. He also tossed 35 consecutive scoreless innings during the second half, a franchise record and the longest streak in MLB this season. In 10 starts after the break, he held hitters to a .457 OPS.
Strasburg completed one of his healthiest seasons in 2017, making 28 starts and throwing 175 1/3 innings with a 2.52 ERA and a 2.72 Fielding Independent Pitching mark. He was an All-Star, struck out 204 batters and held hitters to 0.67 home runs per nine innings, the lowest mark in the Majors.
Strasburg had previously never finished higher than ninth in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award.
You can now make your voice heard by voting for Best Pitcher in the Esurance MLB Awards, where baseball legends, media, front-office personnel and fans come together to pick the winners, with postseason accomplishments factored in. Then tune in Friday at 8 p.m. ET on MLB Network and MLB.com as this year's best stars and moments are revealed.