The new-look Mets have a familiar problem so far: Even when Jacob deGrom is on the mound, they're surprisingly beatable.
DeGrom struck out 14 on Saturday, but New York
Whether it's blamed on poor run support or shaky relief pitching, New York hasn't taken advantage of deGrom's brilliance the last few years. The right-hander won the Cy Young Award in both 2018 and 2019, but since the start of the 2018 season, he's just 25-20 despite posting a stellar 2.06 ERA. He has 33 no-decisions in that span, and the Mets have lost 22 of those games.
Among the pitchers who have more wins than deGrom since the start of 2018: Marco Gonzales (36-25 with a 4.00 ERA), Jon Lester (34-19, 4.06), Rick Porcello (32-26, 4.98) and J.A. Happ (31-16, 4.13).
What's remarkable is that over the past three-plus seasons, the Mets have been mediocre, but they haven't been terrible. They're seven games under .500 in that time frame, so it's not as though deGrom has been pitching for a constant cellar dweller.
But when he's on the mound, New York's offense has been abysmal at times. DeGrom has received 4.10 runs of support per nine innings since the start of 2018,
Perhaps the addition of Francisco Lindor will help this year, but so far it's been the same old story for the Mets and their ace.
CONTROVERSIAL FINISHES
For what it's worth, the Mets are 2-1 in 2021 in games deGrom didn't pitch. One of those victories
Elsewhere in the NL East, Philadelphia
TRIVIA TIME
DeGrom went 10-9 with a 1.70 ERA in 2018 — but in 1987 and 1988, the National League ERA champs had even fewer victories than that. Who were they?
HIGHLIGHT
Trey Mancini of the Orioles received a
That game Thursday was also a return for Eduardo Rodríguez, the Boston pitcher who missed 2020 because of heart inflammation.
LINE OF THE WEEK
The Padres finally have a no-hitter, and it came courtesy of right-hander Joe Musgrove, who grew up in the San Diego area.
Musgrove struck out 10 and allowed only one baserunner in
TRIVIA ANSWERS
In 1987, Nolan Ryan of the Astros went 8-16 with an NL-leading 2.76 ERA. Ryan also led the majors with 270 strikeouts.
In 1988, the NL ERA leader was Joe Magrane of the Cardinals at 2.18. He went 5-9.
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