What happened: At the season's midway point, columnist Joel Sherman named Cam Schlittler and Jacob Misiorowski as his picks to win the Cy Young Awards if the vote were held today. The selection puts two of the sport's fast-rising young pitchers atop their respective leagues' awards conversations.

Why it matters: Naming Schlittler and Misiorowski over more established aces signals how quickly both have forced their way into the elite tier of starters this season. A midseason Cy Young front-runner tag raises the stakes on every remaining start and frames the second-half rotation battles in both leagues.

What to watch: Watch whether Schlittler and Misiorowski can sustain their pace into the second half as the full field of contenders tightens.