The race for the National League Cy Young award is heating up, and many feel Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey is the frontrunner. After striking out Domonic Brown in the second inning of Monday's game with the Phillies, Dickey reached the 200-strikeout plateau. He is the first Met since Johan Santana in 2008 to reach 200 strikeouts, and the fifth in the last 20 years to do so (Santana, Pedro Martinez, Al Leiter, David Cone).
Dickey's ERA this season sits at 2.65, and he features a record of 18-5. Most experts believe he, Gio Gonzalez of the Nationals and closers Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel are the top four pitchers in the running for the NL Cy Young.
As for Monday's game between the Mets and Phillies, Philadelphia has taken an early 1-0 lead after two innings. Chase Utley drove home the run with a sacrifice fly that plated Jimmy Rollins from third.
For more on Dickey and the Mets, check out Amazin Avenue.