Adam Wainwright has edge in 2014 Cy Young Award race

Impossible as it may seem but St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright now has the edge in the National League race for the 2014 Cy Young Award.
Mar 31, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) pitches during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Image Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Wainwright notched a win on Opening Day this past Monday when he delivered a strong performance against the Cincinnati Reds with nine strikeouts in seven innings. If not for Major League Baseball opening the season out in Australia, he would be in the top three through the first three days of the young season rather than sitting in the top five. It’s still early but I expect him to be sitting comfortably when all is said and done.

The reason why Wainwright has the edge is because two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will be sitting out for a month or even longer due to a Teres Major muscle strain. According to the Dodgers, it will sideline the Los Angeles Dodgers ace through the entire month and maybe even longer. It’s the same muscle that is keeping Texas Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar out through mid-June.

While Kershaw is sitting out, Wainwright will probably get in around five or six starts during the month of April and will clearly have the edge over Dodgers pitcher come May.