"Zack was his typical Zack," Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told reporters on Thursday.  "He was good all day."

Yes, that's the type of season it has been for Zack Greinke, who tossed seven shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon to improve his record to 14-3 and lower his already-microscopic ERA to 1.61.

The lanky 31-year-old right-hander has pretty much been untouchable.  He leads the league in ERA, walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP), as well as fewest hits allowed per nine innings and lowest opponent batting average. In other words, it has been incredibly hard for opposing teams to reach base against Greinke and, on the rare occasion that they do, they usually don't cross the plate.

He has been so superb so far this season that if he continues to pitch like he has pitched to this point in the season and does not win the Cy Young award, it would borderline asinine.

While his win-loss record is certainly splendid, it should be even better. Seven times Greinke has had to settle for a no-decision in games where he has pitched at least six innings and allowed one run or fewer. That is crazy - when you pitch that well you should get a victory - but it is yet another indication of how dominant he has been.

And not only has Greinke been the best pitcher this year, he is having a historically great season. Using Baseball-Reference's ERA+, which takes the traditional ERA and adjusts it for league and ballpark factors, not since Roger Clemens in 2005 has a pitcher been as effective as the 2015 Greinke.

The Dodger pitcher started the All-Star Game for the National League and he leads all pitchers in wins above replacement (WAR), according to Baseball-Reference. His resume is deserving of a Cy Young award, and he should win one.  Who cares that his team is not playing as well as a $300 million-club should be. Who cares that he is usually overshadowed by teammate Clayton Kershaw, winner of three of the last four Cy Young's and the 2014 MVP award.

This writer doesn't think that Greinke should win the Most Valuable Player award - although his stats are better than Kershaw's were last year and Justin Verlander's when he won both awards in 2011 - Bryce Harper and Paul Goldschmidt have both hit too well to not win that.  

But as far as Cy Young voting goes, it has to be Greinke. This writer may not have the privilege of filling out a ballot - unfortunately - but if yours truly had the opportunity, Zack Greinke would have to be the selection. When your manager says that "typical Zack" is shutting down the opponent for seven innings, Greinke must be pretty special.

All statistics accurate through August 27 and are courtesy of Baseball-Reference unless otherwise noted.

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About the author
Heath Clary
I am a sports columnist and blogger. I mostly write about the MLB and college football, but I do a little of everything