When the season began, Jacob deGrom made one goal clear: He wanted to pitch 200 innings in 2017. It’s now the end of September and he has succeeded.
After pitching six strong frames against the Nationals Sunday afternoon, deGrom sits at 201.1 innings on the season. He officially reached the mark when he struck out Trea Turner for the second out in the fourth inning. He spoke to reporters after the game about what this means to him.
“We have plans to go to the World Series next year,” deGrom said. “I think it’s something I wanted to get to, to know what it’s like to pitch that many innings in a year.”
In an injury-shortened season last year, the Mets ace tossed 148.0 innings. In 2015, when the Mets went to the World Series, he pitched 191.0 innings in the regular season. When adding in the playoffs, however, that number balloons to 216.0 innings.
When asked if throwing 200 innings this season feels any different, deGrom smiled and admitted, “Honestly, no.”
With one start remaining this season a strong possibility, deGrom has a 15-10 record in 31 starts. In his 201.1 innings he has struck out 239 and walked 59, pitching to a 3.53 ERA and 3.50 FIP.
