The deGrominator is back. Jacob deGrom tossed a one-hit, complete game shutout of the Phillies as the Mets took the series from Philadelphia with a 5-0 victory Sunday.
“One hundred and sixty-two games is a lot, and we’re over halfway through,” deGrom said. “You start to feel things and get a little worn out. So I definitely think that break was needed for me.” (ESPN)
The complete game was the first of deGrom’s young career as he struck out seven Phillies while allowing just one walk. His record improved to 6-4 on the season as his ERA lowered to 2.38 while his WHIP dipped to 1.03. The lone hit came off the bat of the deGrom’s opposing pitcher, Zach Eflin.
“Yeah, I knew who got the hit off me,” deGrom said. “Once he got the hit, then that thought is out of your mind. Then you’re going for the shutout.”
Jake has had a great July thus far, pitching to a 3-0 record with an ERA of 1.29. It finally seems as though deGrom is back to form and ready to anchor this staff if needed. With the uncertainties surrounding Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, the Mets needed deGrom to step up to be the pitcher he has been in the past. He has shown he is ready for the challenge.
Mets manager, Terry Collins believes that all of the worries on deGrom can now be put to rest. Jake again is pitching like the ace pitcher he truly is.
“There was all that concern about his velocity and everything else early,” Collins said. “But he’s just gotten a little stronger, and a little stronger, and as he showed, the rest did him good.” (Newsday)
DeGrom has come a long way since the calendar turned to June and he has a 1.92 ERA in his past nine starts while establishing himself as someone the Mets can count on start after start.
No matter if he has his best stuff or mediocre stuff, deGrom has proven to be a pitcher’s pitcher. He works with what he has and finds his way out of jam after jam successfully for the most part using his guile and smarts. Getting deGrom back to form at a time where so many question marks are being raised about this team’s playoff outlook could not have come at a better time for the Mets.
