Scherzer, Strasburg highlight finalists for NL Cy Young Award

The Nationals raced out to a big lead in the National League East and secured the division with outstanding starting pitching throughout the season.

The leaders in the starting rotation for the Nats were Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. The pair has been rewarded as finalists for the NL Cy Young Award, announced tonight by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on MLB Network.

But Dusty Baker was left out of the top three for NL Manager of the Year.

Scherzer won the Cy Young last season and in 2013 while in the American League with the Tigers. In 2014 and 2015, he finished in the top five of voting.

Scherzer went 20-7 with a 2.96 ERA in 34 starts in 2016. This season, he went 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA in 31 starts. He has made five straight All-Star appearances.

But the sentimental favorite, at least from the Nats' perspective, might swing toward Strasburg, who has never won the honor.

Strasburg finished ninth in the voting in 2014. This season, he tied a career high in wins by going 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 28 starts.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw is the third NL Cy Young finalist.

The top three finalists have been announced for each BBWAA award. The winners will be announced Nov. 13-16.

NL Rookie of the Year

The Dodgers' Cody Bellinger is the odds-on favorite as one of the three finalists for NL Rookie of the Year.

Also in the top three is Pirates first baseman Josh Bell, who hit 26 homers and 90 RBIs, as well as Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong, who hit 25 homers with 65 RBIs.

Bellinger hit .267 in 132 games with 39 homers and 97 RBIs. The Dodgers have 17 Rookie of the Years in the history.

NL Manager of the Year

Despite guiding the Nats to their second consecutive division title and 95-plus wins, Baker did not make the top three.

The finalists for NL Manager of Year are the Rockies' Bud Black, the Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo and the Dodgers' Dave Roberts.

NL Most Valuable Player

Bryce Harper seemed destined early on for a return to the top spot in the NL as the Most Valuable Player, but injuries derailed that run. Harper won the award in 2015. The three finalists are the Reds' Joey Votto, the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton and the Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt.