Two Historic May's Leave NL Pitcher of the Month Too Close to Call

By William Gilhooly

Sportz Nation- 5/30/2026

Photo Credits to Chris Coduto Via Getty Images

The 2026 season hasn’t been up to par so far for back-to-back National League CY Young winner Paul Skenes. By no means is a 3.00 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 60 innings bad numbers, it’s just not up to the CY Young Standard the 23 year old holds himself to. However, even if Skenes were at his best right now, it would still be challenging for him to ascend to the top of the CY Young race given the extraordinary events that have happened in the month of May.

The Philadelphia Phillies Christopher Sanchez and the Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski have done things in may that quite frankly, haven’t been seen in a long time, if not ever.

Christopher Sanchez

Photo Credits to Rich Shultz Via Getty Images

Sanchez recently broke the Phillies franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings Wednesday against the San Diego Padres in which he went seven scoreless, striking out nine in a 3-0 win. The record had stood for 115 innings and was previously held by Grover Cleveland Alexander at 41 innings. With Sanchez’s most recent outing, his total is up to 44.

During this stretch, Sanchez has pitched 39 innings so far in the month, striking out 45, a WHIP of 0.72, and an opponents batting average of .181. Sanchez has had many notable performances such as only allowing four batters to reach in eight innings of work in a win against the Athletics on the fifth, and setting a new career high in strikeouts with 13 while going the distance against the Pirates on the 16th.

 But it’s not just the counting stats that make Sanchez’s historic month notable. The Phillies have completely re-written their season from being in last place in the National League on April 26th, to tied for the most wins in the month of May with 17 including a 4-1 record in games Sanchez has pitched in. The Phillies are now only a game out of the Wild-Card and Sanchez’s historic performance is a large reason why.

Sanchez is closing in on Orel Hershieser’s MLB record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings, needing just 16 innings to break it. 

Jacob Misiorowski

Photo Credits to Jayden Mack Via Getty Images

While Misiorowski has actually given up a run this month, he is still putting up numbers that have put him in all-time company.

Misiorowski recently broke the record for most 100 plus mile per hour pitches thrown in a game with 57 in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals on the 25th. Brewers Manager Pat Murphy summed up Misirowski’s outing very bluntly stating, ”That’s really special man.”  But it’s not just the velocity that’s impressive about Misiorowski, it’s what he’s doing with it.

Misirowski struggled with command tremendously towards the end of his rookie season last year, walking 31 batters in 66 innings to the tune of a 1.24 WHIP causing him to be relegated to the bullpen for most of the Brewers playoff run. This season has been a different note. In 64 innings pitched, Misiorowski has only walked 19 batters and currently ranks second in WHIP with a 0.83. 

May has been an especially impressive month for Misiorowski for more than just his command. Misiorowski has pitched 31.1 innings, striking out 49 while only walking 6, and posting four wins in six starts. 

Because of injuries to starters Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester, Murphy has been forced to get creative with the way he uses pitchers until the group gets healthy again. However with the way Misiorowski has been pitching, it sure must be nice for Murphy to at least get one thoughtless night  knowing he's got one of the best.

While there have been some great MVP and CY Young races in the history of the sport, this race for National League Pitcher of the Month might be one of the tightest and toughest decisions in the history of the league. However, regardless of who the voters choose to win this inconsequential award, both pitchers are sure to be set for an excellent CY Young Candidacy. 

-Will Gilhooly