In what likely was the final start of his record-breaking 2018 season, Jacob deGrom threw eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts to lead the New York Mets to a 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.
The 30-year-old punched out Ozzie Albies with a 92-mph slider for his 1,000th career strikeout to close out his final regular-season start, and he is the fastest Mets pitcher to get to 1,000 strikeouts. deGrom struck out a total of 10 and allowed just two singles against the NL East champions. He retired the final 20 hitters after allowing a single to Johan Camargo.
deGrom finishes the year with a 10-9 record after picking up a win on Wednesday.
.@JdeGrom19 talks about this Amazin’ season with @SteveGelbs. #48forCy pic.twitter.com/9pgqv4qjUi
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 27, 2018
deGrom gave up no more than three runs in his last 29 starts (April 16, 2018 to Sept. 26, 2018) to extend his own single-season record. He also matched the overall mark set by Jake Arrieta in 2015-16.
Now, take a seat and prepare yourself for more mind-blowing stats to follow.
The two-time All-Star finished 2018 having pitched 217 innings and a major league-best 1.70 ERA. Only six pitchers since 1933 have thrown at least 215 innings with a 1.70 ERA or better, and deGrom's 269 strikeouts represent the highest total of the bunch:
- Zack Greinke, 200 K, 19-3 in 2015
- Dwight Gooden, 268 K, 24-4 in 1985
- Luis Tiant, 264 K, 21-9 in 1968
- Bob Gibson, 268 K, 22-9 in 1968
- Dean Chance, 207 K, 20-9 in 1964
- Spud Chandler, 134 K, 20-4 in 1943
And since baseball lowered the mound in 1969, only two pitchers have made at least 30 starts and posted a better ERA than deGrom's 1.70: Dwight Gooden in 1985 (1.53) Zack Greinke in 2015 (1.66).
deGrom's ranks second on the list of lowest ERAs since 1996, the first post-strike season of 162 games:
- 2015 Greinke 1.66
- 2018 deGrom 1.70
- 2000 Pedro 1.74
- 2015 Arrieta 1.77
- 2014 Kershaw 1.77
- 2013 Kershaw 1.83
- 2005 Clemens 1.87
- 1996 Brown 1.89
- 2018 Snell 1.90
- 1997 Pedro 1.90
After tonight's closing statement from deGrom, it seems as if he's set to take the NL Cy Young crown.