Jacob deGrom’s dominant outing results in another Opening Day win for the Mets

Jacob deGrom continued where he left off in 2018, as the Mets extended their run as the best Opening Day team in MLB history. They defeated the Washington Nationals 2-0 in Nationals Park, extending their major league record of 38 wins in 58 Opening Day games.

The 2018 Cy Young winner celebrated his $137.5 million extension by striking out ten in six innings, needing 93 pitches to blank the Nationals across the board. While he wasn’t at his best, he had little time to prepare due to contract negotiations, deGrom held off the loaded lineup filled with young talent. The potent nationals lineup only let up five hits.

deGrom was setting records left and right. This was his 30th straight start allowing three runs or fewer. If anything, this stat is the reason why the Mets paid him and why he won the Cy Young last season.

Jacob deGrom's line in first Opening Day start: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K

That means

–30 straight starts of three runs or fewer (longest streak in major league history, breaking tie with Jake Arrieta)

–25 straight quality starts (tied for 2nd longest behind Bob Gibson's 26)

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) March 28, 2019

Former Cy Young winner Max Scherzer was looking to prove whey he should have won the award last season. He struck out 12 in seven innings, throwing 109 pitches.

The only true damage the Mets were able to provide against Scherzer was a Robinson Cano home run to left field in the first. For the first time since 2012, Cano returned to a New York team and didn’t lose a step. The former Yankee went 2-for-4 and drove in two, becoming the first member of the Mets to hit a home run in his first appearance since Mike Jacobs in 2005.

https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1111318624583716876

Cano also drove in Dominic Smith in the eighth to enhance the Mets’ lead.

The Mets bullpen, filled with question marks last season, looked like a team truly ready to be baseball’s elite. Seth Lugo replaced deGrom in the seventh and struck out the side. The returning Jeurys Familia hit a batter but was able to get through the eighth. Finally, Edwin Diaz, the man the Mets received in the deal that got them Cano, had a scoreless ninth with one strikeout. That earned him his first save for the Mets along with the victory.

The game had a few other highlights from major players. Pete Alonso, making the Opening Day roster, collected his first major league hit in the eighth inning. He ended up going 1-for-4 on the day. The lone Met that was also as impressive as Cano was catcher Wilson Ramos. While his hitting was impressive it was his defense that was very valuable. Taking advantage of the Nationals’ many blunders, Ramos’ defensive capability was a refreshing change of pace than what the Mets have been used to with either Travis d’Arnaud or Kevin Plawecki.

2019 has started off with a bang for your New York Mets, with Brodie Van Wagenen’s offseason moves looking like genuine genius decisions. The real test begins now, as the competition will heat up. Can the Mets continue their Opening Week momentum, or will the start to the season be a rough go around for the team?