Tarik Skubal was so dominant for the Detroit Tigers that they rallied to make the playoffs after trading another top starter, Jack Flaherty.

Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award for the first time on Nov. 20.

Like NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale, Skubal won the Triple Crown for pitchers.

The 28-year-old left-hander won 18 games, struck out 228 batters, and posted a 2.39 ERA. Skubal earned all 30 first-place votes.

The Tigers were playing so poorly at the middle of the season that they traded Flaherty and outfielder Michael Canha.

But with Skubal anchoring the starting rotation and a different offensive hero every night, the Tigers rallied past the Minnesota Twins to reach the postseason.

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Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals finished second in the Cy Young voting.  He won 16 games with a 3.00 ERA.

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase racked up 47 saves and had an ERA of 0.61. He took third place in the voting.

Cole Ragans, another Royals starter, finished in fourth place, just ahead of Baltimore starter Corbin Burnes.

The MVP awards are up next, with Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers as the heavy favorites.