New York Mets Need To Find Rest For Jacob deGrom

The New York Mets are in the midst of what looks like it will be a special season. They have had a winning streak of seven or more games four different times this season, and currently have an 8.5 game lead over the Washington Nationals in the NL East. That race looks to be over after the Mets swept a series against them last week.

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With the Mets looking to be in good shape, they can be afforded the chance to set their rotation and lineups for the postseason. One of the biggest issues during the stretch run for the Mets has been the pitching limits for their younger players, namely Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard. Harvey, who is returning from Tommy John surgery in 2013, is on some sort of innings limit depending on who you ask. Syndergaard has already surpassed the amount of innings he threw last season, and the Mets want to make sure he is fresh for the postseason.

One player that people are not talking about potentially needing rest is Jacob deGrom. deGrom, who won the NL Rookie of the Year last season, looked to be in the Cy Young running just a month ago, but he has quickly fallen out of that race. deGrom has looked very human recently after being superhuman through most of the season.

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deGrom has hit a little bit of a rough patch recently, as the Mets have gone 2-3 in the last five games deGrom has pitched, but he has done little to help get wins over that span. The offense bailed him out about three weeks ago against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he surrendered seven runs, six earned, in 2 ⅔ innings. But, the offense scored 16 runs en route to a victory to pick deGrom up.

deGrom then bounced back against the Boston Red Sox in his next start, but was a tough luck loser as the offense let him down this time. He gave up two runs in six innings with 10 strikeouts, but lost 3-1. He then had a bit of a letdown against the Miami Marlins, as he gave up three runs in six innings with only four strikeouts. The Mets would lose the game 6-5.

When the Mets needed him most though, deGrom stepped up. Dueling against Stephen Strasburg last week, deGrom gave the Mets a strong start. He surrendered only two runs in seven innings, striking out nine. He actually left that game in line to lose, but the offense once again picked him up to pick up a huge win over the Nationals.

But, facing off with the Marlins for the second time in 11 days didn’t do deGrom any favors. He went up against them last night and got blasted, giving up six runs in five innings. He also gave up 10 hits as the Marlins were right on him from the onset of the game.

Over those last five starts, deGrom has seen his ERA go from 1.98 to 2.64, as his ERA in the five games is 6.43. While he still isn’t walking many people, issuing only seven in five starts, he is getting hit a little bit more. He has surrendered 1.35 hits per inning during this span; a number that was only 0.70 prior to those five starts.

With his start yesterday against the Marlins, deGrom has surpassed his inning total from last season with the minor and major leagues combined. While he is only a handful of innings past, he has clearly been tired in recent starts. His average velocity has dipped, and pitching in important innings in the majors leagues this season is a different level of stress than what he did with Mets last season just playing out the season. Being in a pennant race is much different than pitching for a team that was under .500.

It would not hurt the Mets to get deGrom some rest just as they have done with their other young players. The Mets, unlike some of the other teams fighting for a playoff spot, have the ability to rest some players down the stretch because of the lead they have in the division. They should use that to their advantage to not only set up their rotation for the postseason, but also make sure all of their arms are rested and ready for when the games really matter again.

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