X-Factor: DeGrom Bolsters Mets’ World Series Hopes

Even without Jacob deGrom for the first four months of the 2022 season, the New York Mets were already among the elite MLB franchises.

With deGrom back in the fold, the Mets’ chances of ending a 36-year-old World Series drought have jumped tremendously. The two-time NL Cy Young winner is pitching like the franchise-changing superstar the Mets have needed.

DeGrom made his season debut against the NL East rival Washington Nationals on Aug. 2, allowing just one run and three hits (six strikeouts and zero walks) in five innings pitched. It was a big step forward.

DeGrom has a 2.15 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched in five starts and each one of them was bringing him closer and closer to his Cy Young form.

If any of you had any lingering doubts about what we can expect from deGrom for the stretch-run, you can come off your ledges now…

DeGrom pitched as good as money, holding the Colorado Rockies to just one earned run on three hits, whole walking one and striking out nine in a convincing 87-pitch performance.

With a packed house at Citi Field, it had all the feel of postseason game. The vibes, the energy, the intensity… it was all there. It was electric.

Prized free agent signing Max Scherzer is once again defying father time with another ultra-dominant season. If deGrom stays healthy, he and Scherzer give the NL East leaders the undisputed best starting pitcher tandem in baseball.

With the 2022 MLB postseason inching closer and closer, the Mets are a top betting favorite to win the World Series at most major sportsbooks.

The Amazins have the fourth-best odds (+500) at both DraftKings and at FanDuel The Buckeye state is slated to join the booming U.S. sports betting industry, as Ohio sports betting is set to launch by Jan. 1, 2023.

The Mets haven’t made the postseason since 2016, but they’re poised to finally end the drought under new manager Buck Showalter. But given the amount of star power on this roster, a playoff win simply won’t be enough to please the folks of Queens. It’s essentially championship or bust this year.

Mets Stack Up Well Against The NL’s Elite

If the 2022 MLB postseason started today, the Mets and NL-leading Los Angeles Dodgers would get first-round byes thanks to the new postseason format.

There’s a high chance that the Mets will face the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. The NL’s No. 2 seed (currently the Mets), will face the winner of the No. 3 seed vs. the No. 6 seed. The Cardinals will most likely be the No. 3 seed.

The Cardinals would be a favorable matchup for the Mets, who went 4-2 against Albert Pujols and company in the regular season. And of course, that was without deGrom for any of the six games.

St. Louis has been among baseball’s hottest teams in the second half, surging comfortably ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the lead in the division. Miles Mikolas and the ageless Adam Wainwright have carried the rotation, but the back end depth doesn’t stack up with that of the Mets.

The offenses are essentially a wash. St. Louis and New York are among the NL leaders in most key statistical offensive categories. The Cardinals have two NL MVP candidates in Paul Goldschmit and Nolan Arenado.

The Mets can counter, of course, with the dangerous trio of Pete Alonso, Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil. Mark Canha and Marte have provided valuable and consistent contact hitting for the Mets, and those are the guys you need to win in the postseason.

But again, the Mets would simply have the pitching advantage here thanks to their deeper rotation.

The Dodgers may be running away with the best record in the NL, but it’s not as if Dave Roberts’ squad is invincible. Ace starting pitcher Walker Buehler is out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery, and Clayton Kershaw is on the IL with back pain.

New York split a four-game series at Dodger Stadium (June 2 to June 5). Again, though, the pitching advantage would go to the Mets if they have both deGrom and Scherzer. Their arms can absolutely contain the Dodgers’ potent lineup in a best-of-seven.

The San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies both look like legitimate title contenders as well. But San Diego won’t have superstar Fernando Tatis (suspended) for the rest of 2022, and the Mets have absolutely owned the Phillies this season.

Now, defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves would be a scary matchup for the Mets. Atlanta looks just as dangerous as the team that surprisingly won it all last year, and they’ll have a healthy Ronald Acuña Jr for the playoff this time around.

That said, this year’s Mets are well-equipped to handle whatever the gauntlet of the NL throws at them this year. Showalter is one of the game’s top in-game strategists, the lineup is deep and you simply won’t find a better October pitching duo than deGrom and Scherzer.

All of the pieces are there for the Mets to finally end the World Series drought in 2022. They stack up very well with all of the other heavyweights in the Majors. Now, we wait and see if they can put it all together when it matters most.