Call to the pen
Fansided

National League Cy Young a three-way race

By Bill Felber

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 28: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets reacts after allowing a single to Jordan Luplow #47 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning during the game at PNC Park on July 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 28: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets reacts after allowing a single to Jordan Luplow #47 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning during the game at PNC Park on July 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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National League Cy Young
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 02: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets warms up in the outfield before the game against the Atlanta Braves on May 2, 2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

Old-school stats:  8-8, 1.68 ERA in 27 starts, 182 IP

New-school stats: 8.1 WAR, 4.9 Win Probability Added, 42 Adjusted Pitching Runs, 218 Adjusted ERA+

The case for deGrom: The Mets ace has faced 712 batters, second behind only Scherzer. That means either he or Scherzer is on pace to influence more batter-pitcher matchups in 2018 than any other National League player.  deGrom also ranks first in Fielding Independent Pitching and Adjusted Pitching Wins. His .978 WHIP is sheer genius.  Right-handers haven’t a clue against deGrom; they’re batting a collective .174 with a .240 slugging average. In any two-strike count, batters from either side might as well give up. They’re hitting .108 for the season against deGrom in those counts with a .141 slugging average.

The case against deGrom: How can a guy who doesn’t hit double digits in victories – and deGrom may not – be the National League Cy Young winner? Granted, he’s been the poster child for the existence of a hoo-doo this year, including three starts since Aug. 1 in which he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer yet come away with a record of 0-2. deGrom faces the Dodgers tonight, the Phillies this weekend and the Red Sox next week. All are tough challenges and it would help deGrom’s chances to actually win one or two of them.

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