With Jacob deGrom and Hyun-Jin Ryu squaring off in the second of a three-game series between the Mets and Dodgers, it was bound to be a showcase for two front-runners in the National League Cy Young race.
And as far as pitching duels go, they did not disappoint.
The Mets’ 3-0 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday night at Citi Field was scoreless through seven innings, until Dodgers reliever Julio Urias gave up a two-out, bases-clearing double to pinch-hitter Rajai Davis in the eighth. Both Ryu and deGrom were relieved following the seventh, but allowed just five hits combined in the expected pitching battle.
“I think every pitcher will tell you the exact same answer: If you have a guy like deGrom going against you, you’re extra focused,” Ryu said through an interpreter after the game. “It actually puts you in a better rhythm because it’s a pitcher’s duel, you get on the mound faster. Basically, going against the top pitcher, like deGrom, in the league, definitely benefits you in terms of staying more focused and having to execute your pitches. It was a good matchup.”
Ryu struck out six, while deGrom wiped out eight as both lineups struggled to get a barrel on the ball throughout the night. The South Korean lefty managed to finish his night with 12 fewer pitches than deGrom’s 102, but otherwise both pitchers were evenly matched and on top of their game.
Ryu has struggled in the second half, but he still leads the NL with a 2.35 ERA following his scoreless performance Saturday. DeGrom is not far behind, posting a 2.61 ERA on the season, but his 1.85 ERA since the All-Star break laps Ryu’s 3.93 ERA.
Both represented their respective teams in the All-Star game.
“It’s kind of what you value,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of what separates Ryu from the rest of the Cy Young candidates. “Obviously the innings, obviously people don’t talk as much about ERA, but I think for us, [it’s] what he’s done for us. He’s certainly, when you’re talking about the Cy Young, he and Jacob are right there at the top.”
Roberts had intentionally given Ryu an extra day of rest prior to Saturday’s game as well as an extra bullpen session to help him work on his pitches individually. Ryu made a point to say how much he felt like it helped him regain command after struggling in his past few outings.
“Obviously Jacob, there’s a lot more punch in there, there’s a lot more stuff as far as velocity,” Roberts said. “But it’s hard to argue, it’s a good debate.”
August and his first two appearances in September have been particularly rough for Ryu, as he’s allowed 21 earned runs on 38 hits through just over 32 innings. But six-straight appearances resulting in wins from May into June has kept Ryu, who holds a 12-5 record, in the race.
The only other candidates in the mix for the pitching honor are the Braves’ Mike Soroka (2.57 ERA) and Max Scherzer (2.65 ERA) of the Nationals.
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