PITTSBURGH — For the second consecutive year, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is a Cy Young award finalist.

On Monday night, the BBWAA (Baseball Writers’ Association of America) announced its top three finalists for the Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year awards. Skenes, the favorite for the National League Cy Young award, joins Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez and Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto as finalists.

Skenes was also a finalist as a rookie, earning the honors in his first two major league seasons. Braves lefty Chris Sale and Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler were the other two finalists, with Sale earning 26 first-place votes and Wheeler receiving the other four.

If Skenes wins this year, he would become just the third pitcher ever to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young award in his first two seasons, joining Dodgers lefty Fernando Valenzuela, who won both in 1981, and Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden, who won Rookie of the Year in 1984 and the National League Cy Young in 1985.

Skenes, 23, was even more impressive in his second season. He finished with a 1.97 ERA, the best in the majors, in 32 starts and 187 2/3 innings. He struck out 216 batters, breaking the Pirates’ right-handed record and finishing tied for second most in the National League. Opponents batted .199 against him, while his 0.94 WHIP was the best in the National League and fourth best in the majors.

Yamamoto, 27, earned World Series MVP honors on Saturday after leading the Dodgers to a second consecutive championship. However, Cy Young voting took place before the postseason and does not factor in playoff success. In the regular season, Yamamoto finished with a 2.49 ERA in 30 starts. Opponents batted .183 against him, the best in the majors. He struck out 201 batters.

Sanchez, 28, took a step forward after finishing 10th in National League Cy Young voting last year. He had a 2.50 ERA in 202 innings, the second most in the National League, and struck out 212 batters, behind only Skenes, Giants ace Logan Webb and Phillies teammate Jesus Luzardo. Sanchez became the Phillies’ ace and helped them to the postseason after Wheeler, previously a frontrunner for the award, suffered a season-ending blood clot in August.

The winner will be announced on Nov. 12. If Skenes wins, he will be the first Pirate to win the award since 1990 and the third overall, joining Vernon Law in 1960 and Doug Drabek in 1990.

Other award finalists announced Monday:

— AL Cy Young: Hunter Brown, Astros; Garrett Crochet, Red Sox; Tarik Skubal, Tigers

— AL Most Valuable Player: Aaron Judge, Yankees; Cal Raleigh, Mariners; Jose Ramirez, Guardians

— NL Most Valuable Player: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers; Kyle Schwarber, Phillies; Juan Soto, Mets

— AL Rookie of the Year: Roman Anthony, Red Sox; Nick Kurtz, Athletics; Jacob Wilson, Athletics

— NL Rookie of the Year: Drake Baldwin, Braves; Caleb Durbin, Brewers; Cade Horton, Cubs

— AL Manager of the Year: John Schneider, Blue Jays; Stephen Vogt, Guardians; Dan Wilson, Mariners

— NL Manager of the Year: Terry Francona, Reds; Pat Murphy, Brewers; Rob Thomson, Phillies

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