The National League Cy Young Award might be handed over to Max Scherzer once again, but lucky for his competitors, anything can happen in the next month and a half. With the season coming down to its final stages, these pitchers in the NL will contend for the league's top pitching award.

Max Scherzer-Washington Nationals

Scherzer leads the league in innings pitched (153.1), strikeouts (210), opposing batting average (.170), and WHIP (0.85). The Nationals are leading the division by 14.5 games. Scherzer won the Cy Young award last season and could win it for the third time in his career.

Scherzer won the award once when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers. If he keeps this up, he will have to make room in his trophy case.

Clayton Kershaw-Los Angeles Dodgers

You can blame Kershaw's back for ruining a potential Cy Young race. Kershaw has the best chance to upend Scherzer. Kershaw leads the league in Earned Run Average with a 2.04 mark. Kershaw also has the second best opposing batting average, WHIP, and the third best strikeouts. Kershaw will be back in September, but Scherzer might have distanced himself by too much then.

Jacob DeGrom-New York Mets

If there is any pitcher on a team with a below .500 mark and has a fighting chance, it is DeGrom. The Mets ace has had to suffer through a miserable season with the Mets, who are 52-61.

However, he hasn't lost a step with his pitching. DeGrom is 13-5 mark on the year with a 3.21 earned run average, 151.1 innings pitched, and 179 strikeouts. his strikeouts are the second best in the league.

Lance Lynn-St. Louis Cardinals

Who would have thought that Lynn would get Cy Young votes this season? He could place in the top five if he keeps his groove u.

Lynn is 10-6 on the year with a 3.12 earned run average in 138.2 innings pitched. His opposing batting average is at .210 but is just .01 away from being in third. The top two guys in that category are Scherzer and Kershaw. That's pretty elite company.

Gio Gonzalez-Washington Nationals

It helps when your team features two Cy Young contenders.

Gonzalez has a 2.59 earned run average to go with a 10-5 record. His .209 opposing batting average is third best in the league, while his 149.1 innings pitched are second best. Gonzalez doesn't strike a lot of guys out, but he is not giving up a lot of hits either. It's not because of the defense that the Nationals have either. The Nationals have the 15th best field percentage in the MLB.