Jake Arrieta argues his case for Cy Young over Zack Greinke

Despite finishing with a higher ERA than Dodgers ace Zack Greinke, Chicago’s Jake Arrieta thinks he deserves the NL Cy Young award.

Why? Simple.

“Greinke had one complete game all year?” Arrieta asked rhetorically while speaking on the Carmen and Jurko Show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago Monday.

“I think Cy Young has to complete a few more games than that,” Arrieta continued. “Clayton Kershaw has four so we’re tied there. I think the no-hitter might one-up him there. Maybe the complete games might be one of the things that leans in my favor.”

Let me help you out here, Jake.

Greinke finished with a better ERA (1.66 to Arrieta’s 1.77) as well as a better WHIP (0.84 to 0.86 for Arrieta) and WAR (9.3 to 8.6 for Arrieta), but Arrieta is coming off the best second half in the history of baseball.

His second-half ERA of 0.75 is the best in MLB history and he even no-hit the Dodgers in LA.

Plus, Arrieta hasn’t posted a nonquality start since June, and the Cubs are 17-1 in his past 18 starts. Arrieta had 236 strikeouts to Greinke’s 200.

And then there’s this wild stat:

If Arrieta doesn’t win, his year will go down as one of the best ever to not win the award.

But, for what it’s worth, ESPN’s Cy Young predictor gives the nod to Arrieta.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see.