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New York Mets starting pitcher and ace Jacob deGrom has once again established himself as one of these best pitchers in Major League Baseball. The 33-year-old deGrom currently has a 7-2 record and incredible ERA of 0.50 in 12 starts. The veteran pitcher also has 117 strikeouts in 72.0 IP.
If the season were to end today, he would have the best ERA in the history of the sport, which is incredible considering how more advanced the game is. The best ERA currently belongs to Eugene Bremer, who posted a 0.71 ERA in 1937 as a 20-year-old in the Negro American League. Satchel Paige followed him wit a 0.719 ERA in 1944 at 37 years-old in the Negro American League. The previous single season record belonged to Tim Keefe, who had a 0.857 ERA for the 1880 Troy Trojans of the National League. MLB has done a better job acknowledging the records held in the various versions of the Negro Leagues.
With the current pace deGrom is on, he’s projected to finish the season with 283 strikeouts in 174.1 IP (29 starts). If deGrom can come close to those projections and finish with a sub 1.50 ERA, it will be one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen. According to ESPN Stats & Info, deGrom’s first 12 starts in 2021 is eerily comparable to Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson first 12 starts in the 1968 season with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Per @ESPNStatsInfo
— David Bearman ESPN (@DBearmanESPN) June 22, 2021
2021 deGrom vs 1968 Gibson
First 12 Starts
deGrom Gibson
ERA 0.50 1.52
WHIP 0.51 0.88
HR allowed 3 5
Opp BA .113 .181
Opp OPS .353 .480
When you see deGrom’s stats shattering Gibson’s stats, it just proves how dominating he is on the mound this season. Gibson ultimately ended that season with a 22-9 record and 1.12 ERA (career-high) in 34 starts. He also had 28 complete games and 13 shutouts during that season, along with 268 strikeouts in 304.2 IP. The Hall of Fame pitcher won both the NL Cy Young award and NL MVP, a feat that deGrom is trying to duplicate.
In deGrom’s latest start Monday against the Atlanta Braves, he produced six strikeouts and only allowed one hit and 2 walks in 5.0 IP. This season, he has pitched at least 5 or more innings in 11 out of 12 starts. The 33-year-old will be making his next start for New York on Saturday, June 26 against the Philadelphia Phillies.