The Kansas City Royals are playing better in September, but we know what that means now: nothing. They had the majors’ best September record last season and baseball brass started viewing them as sleepers in a weak AL Central division, and they fell flat on their faces. I thus won’t be touting them as a breakout team next season.

However, Zack Greinke remains a real bright spot for K.C. this season. He came back to earth at the midway point of the year but is rounding back into form now and making a serious run at the American League Cy Young award.

Right now, who deserves the award more than Greinke? He plays for a terrible team yet sports a 15-7 record. He leads the American League in ERA (2.08) and WHIP (1.06). In an era of babying pitchers’ arms, he has six complete games and three shutouts this season. Opponents bat .228 off him. He has 229 strikeouts in 216.1 innings. He’s struck out 10 or more batters five times this season and struck out 15 Cleveland Indians on August 25.

The man is a monster and the Cy Young award is special in that it’s truly individual; a guy on a non-playoff team can totally deserve it if he does everything he can for his team to win. How many games would Greinke win on the Yankees? 25? Right now, Greinke has the inside track on the award.