Jacob deGrom’s Dominant Performance
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jacob deGrom has a 2.12 ERA. He has pitched at least five innings and allowed two or fewer runs in 10 straight starts, a Rangers record. His strikeout-to-walk rate continues to climb.
And, he’d done it all without a slider he was proud of.
That changed Saturday. Which should serve as a warning to the rest of the league.
DeGrom’s Improvement
“He’s always got great stuff,” catcher Jonah Heim said after deGrom’s seven shutout innings. “When he’s got that slider, he’s the best pitcher in baseball. He just put it where he wanted to.”
After virtually every one of his first 12 starts this season, deGrom had been critical of the slider. He was “flying open” too much and couldn’t figure out why. The pitch was still formidable, but a little less deadly. Despite all that, batters were still hitting only .189 against it. That was the “bad” slider.
But in the last inning of his last start against St. Louis, he felt something with his hands as he was separating them in the delivery and, yada, yada, yada, everything just fell into place.
DeGrom’s Mechanics
Allow him to explain: “Today felt really good. I noticed something in my last start with my mechanics, and felt like I was pretty good in the last inning, and just tried to work on that this week.
“I felt a little bit smoother than I have felt all year. It was more like a feel thing. I was thinking too much about how I was breaking my hands, versus just like hitting the target. So now my hands feel like they’ve kind of fallen into place. My arms getting up on time. I was throwing before my front foot was down. It just all feels right.”
Uh-oh.
DeGrom’s Performance
DeGrom used the slider 44% of the time, getting 21 swings on the pitch. He got 10 misses, including four for Strike 3. It tied for the most swing-and-misses he’s racked up on the slider this year. In all, batters were 1 for 8 against the slider with Luis García’s single being the lone hit. Garcia was then thrown out trying to steal second.
DeGrom needed just 81 pitches to work seven shutout innings in which he struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter. He almost certainly could have gone out for the eighth, but manager Bruce Bochy wants to conserve his innings whenever possible. And with a 5-0 lead at that point, it was easy to turn to Luke Jackson for the eighth.
DeGrom’s Record
It marked the 10th consecutive outing in which he’s gone at least five innings and allowed two or fewer runs, which is the longest such streak by a Ranger. But Rangers’ past standards and deGrom’s past standards are different things. Even on the deGrom front, it’s impressive. He’d never had such a strike in a single season.
“I’m a fan,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said of watching deGrom. “I love watching him. It’s not just the stuff, but the command and the pitchability. It’s a rare deal. It’s why his career numbers are what they are.”
Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant
DeGrom has been incredible so far in 2025 with a 2.12 ERA that resembles his numbers during his peak with the Mets.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Jacob deGrom’s dominant performance is a warning to the rest of the league. With his improved slider and mechanics, he is poised to continue his streak of success. The Rangers are lucky to have him on their team, and fans can expect to see more exciting games from him in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Jacob deGrom’s current ERA?
A: Jacob deGrom’s current ERA is 2.12.
