Even after Sunday’s seven-inning, three-run outing, New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom continues to lead the National League in multiple pitching categories, keeping him as the favorite to win the 2018 National League Cy Young.

His direct competition, Max Scherzer of the Nationals and Aaron Nola of the Phillies, have both taken considerable steps back over the last week or two.

Scherzer has a 5.40 earned-run average over his last four starts and Nola owns a 5.60 ERA over his last three starts. Over that same four start span, deGrom has a 2.25 ERA.

With just two weeks remaining in the season, it’s becoming quite clear that the NL Cy Young Award has become deGrom’s race to lose.

Despite owning a sub-.500 win-loss record (8-9), Jacob deGrom is the clubhouse leader in a number of major statistical categories.

ERA

  • deGrom: 1.78
  • Nola: 2.42
  • Scherzer: 2.53

FIP

fWAR

  • deGrom: 8.0
  • Scherzer: 6.8
  • Corbin: 6.1
  • Nola: 5.3

Home Runs Allowed per Nine Innings

  • deGrom: 0.45
  • Corbin: 0.68
  • Nola: 0.70

Looking at those stats alone, it would seem that Jacob deGrom should have this race sewn up. But let’s not begin engraving the plaque just yet.

For some, the above statistics are simply secondary proofs. There are a pocket of pundits (and BBWAA voters) that still rely on an ancient method of determining a hurlers worth; wins and losses.

Scherzer leads the way in that category, with 17 wins on the year, followed by Nola (16), Kyle Freeland of the Rockies (15), Zack Godley and Zack Greinke of Arizona (14 apiece). deGrom is tied for 24th in the NL with eight wins.

Scherzer leads the league in strikeouts by a healthy margin (277 to deGrom’s 251, with Corbin at 230), and has pitched the most innings in the league (206.2 to deGrom’s 202).

Though there has been long discussions as to whom will walk away with the hardware, the consensus around baseball is that deGrom is putting the finishing touches on a historic, Cy Young award-winning season.

After defeating the Mets 4-3 on Sunday afternoon, Red Sox manager Alex Cora had some glowing praise to heap on deGrom.

“Oof. He’s one of the best pitchers we’ve faced this year. Poise on the mound, presence, fastball, slider, changeup. Controlling the running game. Honestly, I know voting stuff and all that but he should win the Cy Young in the National League. No doubt,” Cora told Tim Britton of The Athletic.

Boston’s ace and AL Cy Young hopeful Chris Sale echoed those sentiments, telling Britton that “Right now, he’s [DeGrom] the best pitcher in the league,” Sale said.

With two weeks and just two-to-three starts remaining for the field, a strong finish could propel Jacob deGrom to not only a Cy Young Award, but it could also secure him a place in baseball history.

Mathew Brownstein of MMO dug up a terrific stat on Sunday that puts deGrom’s magnificent season in a mind-blowing perspective.

Jacob deGrom currently has a 1.78 ERA and 251 strikeouts on the season. The last starting pitcher to record at least 250 strikeouts and post an ERA no greater than 1.80 was Pedro Martinez in 2000 (284 K, 1.74 ERA).

That’s all of the evidence any BBWAA member should need, in this writer’s opinion. Do the right thing here, and give that man his hardware.