New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom announced on Wednesday that he plans to skip the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, which is scheduled for next week.
He cited rest and recovery as reasons for his decision.
While many MLB fans are understandably disappointed over the news, his position is understandable.
After all, he has dealt with a variety of minor injury concerns throughout the course of his dominant 2021 season.
Before we try to figure out who should take deGrom’s place, let’s appreciate the season that he’s having.
Over 14 starts, this guy has a 0.95 ERA, 402 ERA+, 1.00 FIP, and 0.54 WHIP.
He has struck out 136 batters in 85.0 innings and has allowed just four home runs on the year.
Strikeout No. 1⃣,5⃣0⃣0⃣ for deGrom! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6nItdO2fVu
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 7, 2021
deGrom leads the league in almost every major statistical category for pitchers.
To wrap back around to his absurd ERA+, his 402 mark essentially means that he has been 302 percent better than the average MLB pitchers this season.
He has been unfathomably dominant.
With deGrom sitting out, let’s toss around two possible replacements for the ace.
2. Taijuan Walker – New York Mets
When deGrom announced his plans to skip the Midsummer Classic, he campaigned for his teammate Taijuan Walker to take his spot.
And truthfully, there is some merit to that idea.
Walker is having a stellar season.
He has a 2.44 ERA over 15 starts and is one of the biggest omissions from this year’s group of All-Stars.
In addition to his ERA, Walker has maintained some great complementary statistics, like a 3.06 FIP and 1.01 WHIP, both of which suggest that his success is sustainable.
Walker has always been a decent rotation arm, but he has taken his game to new heights in recent years.
He has a 3.05 ERA over 58 starts since the beginning of the 2017 season and has evolved into one of the game’s best.
1. Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals
Max Scherzer was snubbed from the NL roster despite having an electric first half of the season.
Over 16 starts, Scherzer has managed a 2.10 ERA, 3.09 FIP, and 0.85 WHIP.
He has fanned 127 batters in 94.1 innings and has issued just 21 walks.
lol imagine thinking Max Scherzer and his 2.10 ERA aren’t All-Star worthy https://t.co/18pMU1EOzZ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 4, 2021
In 2020, it looked like age was finally catching up to Scherzer.
He struggled (by his standards) to a 3.74 ERA over 12 starts.
But that narrative has been put to rest this season in a big way.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is out for blood again in 2021.
Scherzer was named an All-Star for seven straight seasons spanning from 2013 to 2019.
If he gets the nod to fill deGrom’s spot this season, it would mark the eighth selection of Scherzer’s career.
Wrap-Up
Different folks have different preferences, but the majority of MLB fans would likely love to see Scherzer in the All-Star Game again.
He pitches with an intensity that very few others do, and watching him perform in the Midsummer Classic has become a tradition of sorts.
Walker would be a great option, too.
His rise has been meteoric, and replacing one Met (deGrom) with another (Walker) would be poetic.
Both Scherzer and Walker are more than deserving of the honor.
We should get an announcement in the very near future regarding a decision.
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