Gerrit Cole vs Jacob deGrom: Who is New York’s Finest?

Jacob deGrom has been the best pitcher in New York for years. However, Gerrit Cole is coming for that title. Who will win?

Jacob deGrom has been the undisputed king of New York’s starting pitchers since his 2014 debut. However, the New York Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to the largest contract for a pitcher in MLB history. Who will win in the battle of the heavyweights?

As we get closer to the 2020 MLB season, there are two different storylines are unfolding in New York. In the Bronx, the Yankees come into the year with a World Series-or-bust mentality following a heartbreaking loss to the Houston Astros in the ALCS. They expect their expensive new ace Cole to finally take them back to the fall classic in October.

In Queens, the Mets look to bounce back from a disappointing season and reach their postseason-level potential under new manager Luis Rojas. deGrom looks to continue his dominance and further build his Hall of Fame resume.

Among fans, however, a new debate has arisen: Who is the true ace of New York? In early February, MLB Network released its annual Top 100 Players Right Now list, where they ranked Cole and deGrom 7th and 8th respectively (1st and 2nd among starting pitchers). Placing Cole above deGrom irked Mets fans, and sparked a fierce debate among the two fanbases.

So, does Cole deserve to be named the de-facto ace of New York over deGrom before throwing a pitch in pinstripes? Well, let’s break down the numbers.