Davis Martin's breakout campaign this season has not only made him a strong contributor to the Chicago White Sox's success, but he's also proved to be a strong contender for the AL Cy Young Award. 

Boasting an 8-1 record, 2.00 ERA, 71 strikeouts and a 0.99 WHIP has made him one of the biggest pitching breakouts this season. He's surging the AL Cy Young odds with a 27 percent strikeout rate that ranks in the 81st percentile.

Thanks to Martin and several other players, including Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas, the White Sox have been a huge sleeper success story this season. They have a 32-28 record, performing as legitimate contenders in the AL Central, only 1.5 games out of first. 

How Davis Martin qualifies as an AL Cy Young candidate

The 29-year-old right-handed starter has hurdled into the early AL Cy Young discussion. His unforeseen dominance this season has made him an invaluable asset to the White Sox. He is under team control until 2031. 

Essentially, his candidacy rests on his stellar 2.00 ERA that ranks sixth in MLB, and he is also tied for second in wins (eight). His command on the mound has shown significant improvement, where he has doubled his strikeout-to-walk ratio from 2.21 in 2025 to an impressive 5.07 in 2026.

By lowering his walk rate from 8 percent in 2025 to a commanding 5.3 percent (91st percentile), he has been a dominant force. In addition, his exceptional 36.1 percent chase rate has come from his devastating slider, which has produced a lot of swing and misses with a high whiff rate of 51.2 percent. 

When it comes to Martin’s 2.31 FIP, it showcases how his remarkable 2.00 ERA is no accident. A pitcher's FIP targets strikeouts, walks and home runs allowed. Martin's FIP proves that he is a top-tier starter, as he possesses an elite walk rate and has limited the long ball (only three home runs across 67.2 innings).