Jacob deGrom has quietly walked his way back into the Cy Young conversation. After the Yankees hit around Hyun-Jin Ryu over the weekend, the Mets ace has a good chance to take home the award over the final month of the season.
Since 1893, only one pitcher has multiple games with 13+ K’s as a pitcher and a home run as a batter.
Jacob deGrom is in a class of his own.
(? @DoveMenCare ) pic.twitter.com/R4wOPhhXz4
— ESPN (@espn) August 24, 2019
Since May started, deGrom has thrown 136 innings with a 2.12 ERA and 162 strikeouts and only allowed 10 home runs. deGrom has turned it on when the Mets really needed it during the second half of the season. He has a 1.04 ERA, only allowed one home run and opposing hitters are slugging .228 against him.
How Can He Win the Cy Young?
deGrom is currently pitching better than the 2018 deGrom who won the award. He has been doing it against good competition too. If he can lead the Mets into the postseason and continue to pitch at his current rate, deGrom will put himself in a good spot to win a Cy Young award for the second straight season.
Big news for Jacob deGrom's National League Cy Young defense: Hyun-Jin Ryu blew up for seven runs tonight against the Yankees.
Updated NL ERA leaders:
1. Hyun-Jin Ryu, 2.00
2. Max Scherzer, 2.41
3. Mike Soroka, 2.41
4. Jacob deGrom, 2.56
5. Clayton Kershaw, 2.71— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 24, 2019
deGrom had gained ground in the race thanks to back to back rough starts from Ryu. Ryu is still the front runner for the award, but September will ultimately decide who the winner is. Max Scherzer’s stints on the IL takes him away from the front of the race. Mike Soroka is more of a dark horse, the same way Aaron Nola was last season. Soroka will likely finish in the top three but will not win the award.
Clayton Kershaw has also brought himself back into the race, but Ryu’s consistency outshines Kershaw’s resurgence. The Cy Young race will seem to be a two man race between Ryu and deGrom through the season’s end and both are trending in opposite directions heading towards September.