The National League Rookie of the Year candidate won't pitch again this season.
Jacob deGrom will not receive another chance to bolster his Rookie of the Year credentials, as the Mets will shut down their breakout starting pitcher for the season, according to ESPN New York. The decision wipes out what could have been his final start of the season at home against the Houston Astros on Saturday.
During a tremendous rookie campaign, deGrom tossed 140.1 innings for the Mets after logging 38.1 frames in Triple-A. The right-handed hurler exceeded his 2013 usage rate by 31.1 innings, prompting the club to end his season. This allows deGrom to exit on a monumental high note. He allowed four earned runs over his last five starts, giving him a 1.06 ERA during that stretch. After registering a career-high 13 strikeouts against the Miami Marlins on September 15, he followed up with another 10 strikeouts in his season finale versus the Atlanta Braves.
A scorching finish gives deGrom a strong chance of edging out Billy Hamilton for Rookie of the Year honors. He'll conclude 2014 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, amassing 144 strikeouts and 43 walks. While Hamilton's 3.4 fWAR edges out deGrom's 3.1 mark, the speedster is sporting a .253/.295/.358 slash line, absorbing all his value from baserunning and defense. Voters typically don't weigh those factors as heavily, so expect deGrom to become the first Met since Dwight Gooden to take home the award.