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New York Mets: Jacob deGrom’s case for the NL Cy Young Award

By David Burton

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 03: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets looks on in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on August 3, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 03: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets looks on in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on August 3, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA. – JUNE 13: Jacob  deGrom #48 of the New York Mets relaxes in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Field on June 13, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA. – JUNE 13: Jacob  deGrom #48 of the New York Mets relaxes in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Field on June 13, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Pitching Under Pressure

As previously mentioned, deGrom has had little support from his Mets teammates for most of his outings on the mound.

deGrom’s ability to pitch under pressure, knowing that any runs he gives up can (and most likely will) cost him the game, have to be accounted for.

The baseball sabermetric called the “average leverage index” aims to place value on high pressure situations when a certain inning or a bat matters most to the outcome of the game.

According to Tim Britton of the Athletic (subscription required), deGrom’s average leverage index is not only the highest in the MLB, but also the largest for any starting pitcher since 2005.

Scherzer, who is accompanied by a team filled with all-stars, both in the everyday lineup and in the bullpen, does not nearly face the same type of pressure per start as Jacob deGrom.

Anyone who watches the Mets knows that deGrom has become a master of working out of trouble. His ability to switch into a higher gear when it matters most is utterly impressive.

That’s not to say that Scherzer doesn’t have that gear as well, but he does not need it as often. When casting votes for the Cy Young, a pitcher who has shown the ability to take it to that next level when he needs to should be rewarded for it.

And so, with less than 50 games left in the 2018 season, there is still plenty of time for things to change.

One bad start for either pitcher could cost them a shot at the Cy Young award. However, that is the case more so for deGrom than Scherzer.

Despite everything he has done on the mound, he still has little to show for it, especially in the eyes of many voters.

For deGrom to win over a majority of the votes, he cannot afford to slip. If I had to bet on it today, my money would be on Scherzer winning the award,  due to many many voters infatuation with league statistics like wins, strikeouts, and WHIP.

No starting pitcher has ever won a Cy Young with a losing record. deGrom, who currently sits at 7-7 on the season, will have to harvest at least few more wins and widen the margin of ERA in order to capture the honor.

Next. Here is why Khalil Mack won't be a Jet?. dark

Can he do it? Well, of course he can. He’s Jacob deGrom, the best pitcher in the National League.

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