Blake Snell named NL Pitcher of the Month for August

Sep 3, 2024, 11:18 AM

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 30: Blake Snell #7 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the to...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Following a brutal start to the 2024 season–one that also included multiple trips to the injured list–Blake Snell is looking like his Cy-Young-Award-winning-self once again.

The southpaw was named National League Pitcher of the Month for his impressive performance in the month of August, as Snell delivered a 2-0 record, 1.64 ERA, and 53 batters over six starts (38.1 innings pitched).

The 31-year-old only surrendered seven earned runs during his six August starts while posting a shutdown WHIP of 0.8 to go along with a 12.4 K/9 rate.

Easy choice 🦖 pic.twitter.com/EFuco9y5X5

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) September 3, 2024

More on Blake Snell & the SF Giants

It was a rough start to the season for Snell, who took home his second Cy Young Award in 2023 while playing for the San Diego Padres.

Following a lengthy free agency period, the veteran pitcher inked a two-year deal worth $62 million that included an opt-out clause after the first year. Through the end of July, it appeared as if there was a strong chance that Snell would pick up his 2025 player option in light of an 0-3 record and 5.10 ERA.

A strong August has lowered Snell’s ERA to 3.56 on the season, and signs seem to point to the Scott Boras client exercising his opt-out clause and seeking a more lucrative–and long-term–deal this winter.

Snell’s strong push comes a little too late for the Giants, who enter play this week well behind the third and final National League Wild Card spot with less than one month remaining in the regular season.

Could a last-second playoff push sway Snell to re-up with San Francisco this offseason, or will the lefty look elsewhere to play the bulk of his prime years? We’ll have a clearer picture at the end of September.