New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending June 18th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
deGrom compiled a 2-0 record while allowing one run over 17.0 innings pitched to claim his third career NL Player of the Week Award, last winning on June 8, 2015. Jacob struck out 12 batters and issued six free passes along with eight hits in two dominant starts last week, while also blasting a solo home run in yesterday's contest against the NL East-rival Washington Nationals. deGrom is the first Mets hurler to take home weekly honors since his teammate Noah Syndergaard was named NL Player of the Week last season for the period ending May 22nd.
In deGrom's first start of the week last Monday against the Chicago Cubs, the right-hander tossed his first complete game of the 2017 season, and the second of his career, last doing so against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 17, 2016. deGrom's strong outing marked the sixth consecutive start in which a Mets starting pitcher allowed one run-or-fewer, following Zack Wheeler (7.0 IP, 1 R), Matt Harvey (5.0, 0), Robert Gsellman (6.2, 0), Steven Matz (7.0, 1) and Seth Lugo (7.0, 1). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time that six New York starters allowed one run-or-fewer in consecutive starts was May 20-28, 2010 as part of a franchise-record eight-game stretch. deGrom, who is celebrating his 29th birthday today, followed up his complete-game outing with an 8.0 inning effort in which he allowed just three hits, did not surrender an earned run and struck out six batters. Through his first 90 career starts, the 2015 NL All-Star has now allowed one run-or-fewer on 40 occasions, the second-highest total in Mets history behind Dwight Gooden's mark of 41 such starts. In addition, the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year has logged 598 strikeouts over his first 90 starts, again the second-highest total in franchise history to Gooden (677). Entering play today, deGrom ranks fourth in strikeouts (106) and third in strikeouts-per-nine innings (10.72) among qualified NL hurlers.
First baseman Matt Adams (.500, 8 R, 6 XBH, 10 RBI) also posted an impressive week for the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta's newly acquired slugger connected for his second multi-home run game of the season last Monday (also June 3rd), and the fifth of his career. Adams, who joined the club on May 20th, ranks second among NL leaders in home runs (7) and RBI (19) during the month of June. Moreover, outfielder Dexter Fowler (.458, 4 HR, 11 RBI, .958 SLG) was imposing for the St. Louis Cardinals. The 2016 NL All-Star has homered in each of his last four games, becoming the first Cardinals player to accomplish the feat since Albert Pujols in 2011. Dexter's streak is tied for the second-longest in the Majors this season, following Eric Thames of the Milwaukee Brewers, who recorded a streak of five straight games from April 13th-17th. Other noteworthy performances last week included Dexter's teammate, infielder Matt Carpenter (.455, 9 R, 5 2B, 6 RBI); closer Kenley Jansen (4 SV, 0.00 ERA, 7 SO) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; second baseman DJ LeMahieu (.452, 7 R, 14 H, 6 RBI) of the Colorado Rockies; and closer Fernando Rodney (4 SV, 0.00 ERA, 8 SO) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Jacob deGrom will be awarded a watch courtesy of Rockwell.