Gerrit Cole vs Jacob deGrom: Who is New York’s Finest?
Career numbers
Cole and deGrom are at very similar points in their career, as they are entering their 8th and 7th seasons respectively. When comparing their career numbers, one thing that pops off the stat sheet is their remarkable durability. In each of the past three season, they have both tossed over 200 innings in over 30 starts.
However, deGrom has been more consistent throughout his career. He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2014 after posting a stellar 2.69 ERA in 22 starts, and he has never looked back. His “worst” season was in 2017, where he had his lowest ERA, 3.53. However, he was still one of the top pitchers in the league and finished in the top 10 in Cy Young voting. As a whole, his career numbers are nothing short of extraordinary. He has a career ERA of 2.62 with 1255 strikeouts and 1.053 WHIP. If deGrom can maintain a steady level of play, he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer with those numbers.
Cole has dealt with a few speed bumps on his way to becoming one of the best pitchers in the league. He broke into the league at 22 with the Pirates, where he immediately displayed his potential. He broke out in 2015, his third season in the league, where he went 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA and fourth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting.
However, in 2016 Cole lost his groove. Possibly due to injuries, Cole saw a significant dip in his strikeout prowess in 2016. He K% decreased from 24.3% to 19.4%, and his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) inflated to .345. While he seemingly got worse in 2017, posting a career-low 4.26 ERA, his strikeout metrics were trending back up, and now he is the best strikeout pitcher in the league. He currently has a 3.22 career ERA with 1336 strikeouts and 1.129 WHIP.
While Cole is just reaching his prime, deGrom’s remarkable consistency is unmatched when paired with his recent dominance. Cole has more to prove, while deGrom has already cemented his legacy.
Advantage: Jacob deGrom