2019 Jacob deGrom Props: Expect a Big Uptick in Wins

• National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom won just 10 games in 2018
• That’s the lowest number ever posted by a starting pitcher who won the Cy Young
• Sportsbooks anticipate a significant increase in that digit in 2019

Jacob deGrom will be winning in 2019. There’s going to be so much winning, the New York Mets pitcher may get sick and tired of it.

Jacob deGrom in a league of his own | https://t.co/LcCY9JQFlu https://t.co/0Dad8YJEve pic.twitter.com/KFfJmDpSul

— Fenway1912 (@fenway1912) March 16, 2019

Okay, so maybe that’s a stretch. But it’s certainly not beyond the realm of possibility to think that deGrom will post more wins than the 10 he accumulated in 2018.

Sportsbooks see deGrom’s winning ways trending upward in 2019, and we have to agree.

Jacob deGrom Projected 2019 Win Total

*Odds taken 03/17/19
deGrom posted 15 wins during the 2017 season. He should get there again in 2019. This is an over play.

What deGrom did in this department in 2018 was enter a rarified area for ERA. He was just the 11th qualified starting pitcher over the past century to post an ERA of 1.70 or lower. Others on that list include Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, and Greg Maddux.

Game: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 10 K
Season: 217 IP, 269 K, 1.70 ERA

Jacob deGrom had a dominant finish to one of the most dominant pitching seasons in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/GYa3NUAoOu

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 27, 2018

He was the third pitcher since the mound was lowered in 1969 to make 30 starts, pitch 210 innings and have an ERA that low.  The others? Arizona’s Zack Greinke and former Met Dwight Gooden.

Pick: Over 14.5 wins (-115)

Jacob deGrom Projected 2019 ERA

In his last 29 starts, he allowed three runs or fewer. That’s the longest single-season stretch of such dominance in Major League history. He closed out the season by posting 24 consecutive quality starts. That’s also a single-season big-league mark.

Jacob deGrom Stats

He probably won’t go as low as 1.70 again, but it’s doubtful he’ll balloon above 2.75. Play the under.

Pick: Under 2.75 (-115)

Jacob deGrom Projected 2019 Strikeout Total

With 269 strikeouts during his Cy Young season, deGrom was fourth in the Majors and second to Washington’s Max Scherzer in the NL.

In his 27th straight start allowing 3 runs or fewer, Jacob deGrom struck out 12 batters while pitching 7 innings today.

He became the 3rd pitcher in Mets history with 250+ strikeouts in a season, joining Tom Seaver (3 such seasons) and Dwight Gooden (two). pic.twitter.com/Y5nkvPI4Qk

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 16, 2018

That’s the fourth-highest total ever compiled by a Mets pitcher. Along the way, he posted a dozen double-digit strikeout starts. He’s averaged 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings over his big-league career.

It should be a piece of cake for him to mow to 246 batters. Take the over.

Pick: Over 245.5 (-115)

Jacob deGrom Projected 2019 WHIP

deGrom’s 091 WHIP tied Scherzer for the NL lead and was a notch below Houston’s Justin Verlander (0.90) for the MLB lead. And he did it for a team that was 77-85 and was shut out in 9% of his starts.

Best single season WHIP by a Mets qualified pitcher in team history

0.91 Jacob deGrom 2018
0.93 Matt Harvey 2013
0.946 Tom Seaver 1971
0.949 Pedro Martinez 2005
0.96 Doc Gooden 1985
0.976 Seaver 1973
0.978 Seaver 1968
0.979 deGrom 2015
0.99 Sid Fernandez 1993
1.00 Bob Ojeda 1988

— Mets Stats (@NYMetsStats) February 27, 2019

He’s gone under 1.00 for WHIP twice in his career.

deGrom’s career WHIP is 1.072. It’ll be close, but the under looks to be the winner here as well.

Pick: Under 1.10 (-115)