For the second consecutive start, the New York Mets needed Jacob deGrom to be Jacob deGrom. Both times he failed to be the dominant pitcher he has been known to be.
His line on the night was not pretty by any standards, pitching just 4.2 innings before being pulled from the game. He allowed five runs on the night while giving up 12 hits in the process. Jake walked two and struck out three as he took the loss for the second time in consecutive starts.
DeGrom surrendered 10+ hits in consecutive starts for the first time in his career. It was also the first time in Mets history that a pitcher allowed a dozen hits in consecutive starts. The Mets beleaguered ace had no answers as to what may be wrong following Wednesday night’s debacle.
“I feel fine,” deGrom said. “It’s hard to get results when you throw everything right down the middle. That’s what it is. I’m missing down the middle. These are big-league hitters, and that’s what they do.” (ESPN)
Location was deGrom’s worst enemy Wednesday. Fastballs were being left on the fat part of the plate, as well as hangers being deposited into the outfield stands. His record fell to 7-7 on the season as his ERA rose to 2.96. Many wonder if fatigue may be an issue for deGrom, though he insists otherwise.
“I honestly don’t know why,” deGrom said. “Everything, when I seem to miss, it seems to go right down the middle and seems to get hit out of the park or off the wall or something. These last two were frustrating, but I’ve got another one in five days. So I’ve got to get ready for that one. … I don’t feel tired at all. I felt fine.”
The Mets need their gutsy righty to return to form in the worst way. With this team’s playoff hopes hanging in the balance and the uncertainty of Steven Matz returning to form as he deals with nagging injuries, they need the deGrominator.
