Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello has taken out the American League (AL) Cy Young Award after leading the MLB with 22 wins this season.

Porcello (137) narrowly edged former Detroit Tigers team-mate Justin Verlander (132) by just five points on Wednesday.

The Red Sox ace finished the season 22-4 over 223 innings with a 3.15 ERA and 1.01 WHIP.

Though Porcello has never made an All-Star roster, Porcello earned the award by striking out 189 batters with just 32 walks.

The 27-year-old became the seventh Red Sox pitcher to win the Cy Young, which is the most by any AL team.

Verlander led the AL with 14 first-place votes, but Porcello's 18 second-place votes helped him claim the Cy Young.

It was the narrowest margin to decide the AL winner since David Price beat Verlander by four points in 2012.

Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber finished third with 98 points and Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton came in fourth with 72 points.