Jacob DeGrom has proven to be the last man standing when it comes to high expectations the Mets starters were thrust upon them going into the 2017 season.
With the flurry of injuries or mediocre performances from the starting pitchers, deGrom has remained a constant every fifth day, posting a 2-1 record with a 3.80 ERA in seven games started.
DeGrom had a rough go around in his last outing in Atlanta, but rebounded to fire 11 strikeouts and yield just three runs in six innings on Monday night.
While DeGrom’s ERA is inflated and he settled for a no-decision, he added to his strikeout total decently, as the righty has now fanned 60 batters in 42 2/3 innings in 2017.
“It was nice to get strikeouts in big situations,” deGrom said. “[Buster] Posey with a leadoff double, I think I was able to strike the next guy out and then get a ground ball and another strikeout, so in those situations, they’re good.”
It was deGrom’s fourth double-digit strikeout performance this year and the 14th of his career, which is tied for the sixth-most in team history with Nolan Ryan.
Only Red Sox starter Chris Sale possesses more double-digit strikeout games this season with six such games.
Remarkably, deGrom is also the first pitcher in team history to have four double-digit strikeout games among the team’s first 31 games of a season.
His strikeout total leads the National league and is second behind only the aforementioned Sale who has 73.
While there is still room for improvement for deGrom this season, he has proven that he can strikeout batters in big situations.
The runs allowed will need to be lowered, but it’s still early in the season and deGrom has shown his potential to flourish consistently throughout his big league career.
