Just Mets

If there’s a consolation prize from the Mets struggles this season, it’s Jacob deGrom’s remarkable performance throughout the course of the year, showing his rookie of the year performance in 2014 was indeed no fluke.

DeGrom was brilliant once again against the Brewers on Thursday afternoon, pitching eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts while allowing only four hits to earn his eighth win of the season.

“He’s the guy we saw last year. He’s legit,” Terry Collins said. “He’s not going through any sophomore slump. He’s still making the adjustments he needs to make and making pitches.”

He has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, and he did what that caliber an arm is supposed to do: he delivered a badly needed win for his fading club to avoid an eight-game losing streak and settle for a 1-7 road trip.

For deGrom, his confidence is clearly sky high at the moment, although he is trying to stay humble during his amazing run of success.

“I try not to be too confident when I’m out there,” deGrom explained. “I just try to get ahead, strike one, and go from there. If you get too cocky, then you can get put back in your place real quick.”

It was vintage deGrom on Thursday. His most trying inning was the seventh when he allowed a couple of two out singles, but he was in complete command of the bottom of the strike zone with pin point control of the corners. He was quick, efficient, and simply dominant with his fastball and slider for eight innings on Thursday.

Knowing runs are at a premium for the Mets these days, deGrom didn’t want to alter his approach or game plan on Thursday.

“I think I did that last year when I was trying to get my first win,” he explained. “I think I started putting a little pressure on myself. I learned from that. Now I just go out there and control what I can control and try to keep us in the ballgame.”

It’s safe to say deGrom will represent the Mets in the All-Star Game in Cincinnati. He’s been their best and most consistent pitcher this season, and has been among the best pitchers in the sport not just this year, but dating back to his debut in May, 2014. He has put to bed any concern of a sophomore slump, showing an ability to make in-game and start-to-start adjustments and continue dominating.

And on Thursday, he proved to the baseball world he is an ace in this game, as he helped stopped the Mets from bleeding to death, at least for a day.