Jacob deGrom Surpasses Max Scherzer as 2019 NL Cy Young Favorite

• New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is now the favorite to win the 2019 NL Cy Young Award
• deGrom won the NL Cy Young Award in 2018
• He is one outing away from setting a new MLB record for consecutive quality starts

Jacob deGrom is poised to make Major League Baseball history on Tuesday and it has helped improve his 2019 National League Cy Young odds significantly.

https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/1113574020740468736

The Mets right-hander is 2-0 this season and has yet to allow an earned run.

2019 NL Cy Young Award Odds

Odds taken 04/09/19.

DeGrom won the 2018 NL Cy Young Award. He posted an earned-run average of 1.70, becoming just the ninth MLB starting pitcher since 1970 to record an ERA below 1.80.

A Quantity of Quality

If deGrom goes six innings and allows three runs or less in Tuesday’s start for the Mets at Citi Field against the Minnesota Twins, he will make MLB history.

https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/1113605972839272449

Currently, deGrom and Hall of Famer Bob Gibson share the MLB mark with 26 consecutive quality starts.

deGrom this season:
13 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 24 K.

— Matt Ehalt (@MattEhalt) April 4, 2019

deGrom’s streak began on May 18, 2018. Gibson posted his 26 quality starts in succession during the 1967 and 1968 seasons.

He’s on a Roll

Along with his quality starts, deGrom has also added an impressive slider to his repertoire, clocking in at 95 mph.

Jacob deGrom, 98mph Fastball, 95mph Slider & 89mph Changeup, Overlay/Slow. pic.twitter.com/3alJJVgrMB

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 4, 2019

In an April 3rd win over the Miami Marlins, deGrom struck out a career-high 14 batters.

In his last 42 innings, Jacob deGrom has hit as many homers (1) as he has allowed.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 3, 2019

He also clouted a home run in that game.

Scherzer Slumping

While deGrom has picked up where he left off, Scherzer has struggled out of the gate. The Washington Nationals ace is 1-2 with a 3.32 ERA and a WHIP of 1.105.

The @Max_Scherzer vs. @JdeGrom19 #OpeningDay matchup more than lived up to the hype! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/UovMm1o09N

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 31, 2019

deGrom got the best of Scherzer in a head-to-head Opening Day showdown, as the Mets blanked the Nationals 2-0.

Cy Young Back-to-Back? Why Not?

An NL pitcher winning consecutive Cy Young Awards has proven to be a fairly commonplace occurrence in recent years. Scherzer was the most recent to do so, capturing the award in 2016 and 2017.

Before him, Clayton Kershaw turned the feat in 2013-14, and Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants won consecutive NL Cy Youngs in 2008-09.

Greg Maddux (1992-95) and Randy Johnson (1999-2002)  both won four straight NL Cy Young Awards.

deGrom is the Bomb

After his groundbreaking 2018 campaign, it was easy to project that deGrom’s numbers would be dialed back somewhat in 2019. Sure, it’s very early into the season, but that’s not been the case at all.

Jacob deGrom threw his 26th straight quality start, tied with Bob Gibson in 1967-68 for the longest streak in MLB history (ER was official in both leagues in 1913). He's the 5th pitcher since the mound was lowered in 1969 to strike out 14 batters and hit a home run in a game. pic.twitter.com/ovMTiHMgDs

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 4, 2019

If anything, he looks like he’s getting better. deGrom has posted a 1.55 ERA during his 26-game quality start streak. He’s given up 32 earned runs over his last 185.2 innings.

.@SteveGelbs asks Jacob deGrom if he knew coming off the mound after the 7th that he had struck out a career high:

"Yeah, I did" 😂 pic.twitter.com/CcF4mGJMLo

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 4, 2019

At this juncture, there’s no reason to doubt deGrom. And it would appear to be foolish to bet against him winning another Cy Young Award in 2019.

Pick: Jacob deGrom (+150)