MLB: Notable Nuggets from the Weekend
Let’s take a look at the week that was and some of the top performances in MLB
Fans have been treated to an amazing week across MLB. Let’s take a look at some of the best moments from a statistical perspective.
The Mets’ ace is coming off a career game. He pitched the second complete-game shutout of his career on Friday against the Nationals. deGrom struck out a career-high 15 batters and allowed just two hits in a 6-0 victory.
deGrom became just the third pitcher in franchise history to record 15+ strikeouts in a game without allowing a walk. Dwight Gooden did it twice back in his rookie season of 1984. Former All-Star Sid Fernandez also accomplished the feat in 1989.
Entering play Sunday, deGrom leads the majors with a 0.31 ERA. He’s allowed just one earned run in 29 innings. In fact, deGrom isn’t just pitching—he’s hitting! The two-time Cy Young winner has six hits in eleven at-bats at the plate in 2021. The 32-year old also has a double and two RBI on the year.
You read that right. deGrom has two RBI this season. He has more RBI than earned runs allowed! It’s mind-boggling!
Do you know what’s also mind-boggling? deGrom’s six hits this season are more than the following players (entering play Sunday):
Nick Ahmed: 3-for-41 (.073 AVG)
Matt Carpenter: 3-for-39 (.077 AVG)
Miguel Sano: 5-for-45 (.111 AVG)
Josh Bell: 5-for-38 (.132 AVG)
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If Albert Pujols is “the machine,” then Fernando Tatis Jr. is “the machine 2.0.” The 22-year old shortstop—who signed a $340-million deal this past off-season—destroyed Dodgers’ pitching on Friday and Saturday.
He hit two homers against three-time Cy Young winner, Clayton Kershaw, at Dodger Stadium on Friday. It was the 22nd anniversary of his father, Fernando Tatis, hitting two grand slams in a single inning at Dodger Stadium. While Tatis Jr. didn’t hit a grand slam, he homered twice in grand style—pun certainly intended.
On Saturday, Tatis Jr was up against another former Cy Young winner in Trevor Bauer. He won it with the Reds last season. Different day. Different pitcher. Same results for Tatis Jr., who had another multi-homer game! He became the fifth player in team history with back-to-back, multi-homer games, joining Nate Colbert (1972), Ken Caminiti (1995), Ryan Klesko (2001), and Brian Giles (2007).
Also, for context, Tatis Jr. has played in 157 career games. He has a career 7.6 WAR. His father played 949 MLB games over eleven seasons. He had a career 6.4 WAR.
Cole outdueled Shane Bieber in one of the best pitching duels of the season Saturday. The Yankees’ number one starter allowed one run in seven innings of work. He struck out eleven without walking a batter in New York’s 2-1 victory.
This marked the third time this season Cole struck out 10+ batters without allowing a walk. The Yankees’ record for most such games in a single season (not month—season) is four, set by Mike Mussina in 2001. Cole has three such games in his last four starts.
In fact, Cole has struck out 42 batters and walked just one in his last four outings!
42 strikeouts.
One Walk.
It’s not a typo. You don’t have to fact check me. If you do, you’re wasting your time.
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Without Cole, the Yankees would have no chance at competing for a playoff spot in 2021.