Hunter Brown is making a case for himself among the American League’s top pitchers. After finishing third in Cy Young voting with a 2.43 ERA over 185.1 innings, the Houston Astros right-hander has started the 2026 season strongly.
Evolving Pitching Style
Brown has built upon a strong 2024 season and an excellent 2025. He has phased out his cutter. Brown now relies more on his sinker and knuckle curve.
His second start of 2026 against the Red Sox saw him strike out eight batters in six innings, allowing just one earned run. It was a more efficient performance compared to his Opening Day start, where he laboured through 4.2 scoreless innings with 102 pitches.
Dominant Knuckle Curve
Through two starts, Brown boasts a 39.5% strikeout rate and a 38.9% whiff rate on his knuckle curve. The knuckle curve is proving to be his most effective secondary pitch, complementing his four-seam fastball.
Cy Young Competition
If Brown hopes to win the AL Cy Young Award, he will face competition from the likes of Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Max Fried. Brown undoubtedly has the stuff to end 2026 with elite numbers, especially if he continues to be as dominant as he has been thus far.
Even if he does not win the Cy Young this year, he is still just 27 years old. He has demonstrated how impactful his skillset can be. With his prime still ahead of him, winning a Cy Young isn’t so much an “if” as it is a “when.”