Justin Verlander wins Cy Young Award

NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Justin Verlander, the Detroit Tigers right-handed pitching ace, was the overwhelming choice Tuesday for this year's American League Cy Young Award.

Each of the 28 sportswriters -- two from each American League city -- ranked Verlander first on their ballots, giving him a total of 196 points.

Verlander, 28, led the league in the past season with 24 wins, a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts. He was the first American League pitcher to be tops in all three since the most recent unanimous Cy Young choice, Johan Santana of Minnesota, in 2006.

Verlander won his last 12 starts of the season and finished with a 14-1 record in the American League Central Division that helped the Tigers to the division title.

Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels trailed with 97 points, while James Shields of the Tampa Bay Rays was third with 66 points. Contenders get 7 points for each first-place spot on a ballot, four for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth.