deGrom v. Cole, who's better?
Jacob deGrom and Gerrit Cole are clearly two of the top starting pitchers in baseball. Both are terrific players and have been dominant for years. The question is - between the battle of the two aces, who is better?
Career Stats (as of May 9th, 2021):
deGrom Career Stats:
188 GS
1204.2 IP
72-53 W-L
1418 SO
2.55 ERA
154 ERA+
2.70 FIP
1.03 WHIP
.214 AVG
29.7% K%
6.0% BB%
36.3 WAR
Cole Career Stats:
211 GS
1312.2 IP
105-56 W-L
1496 SO
3.14 ERA
130 ERA+
3.05 FIP
1.11 WHIP
.227 AVG
28.3% K%
6.3% BB%
32.4 WAR
Verdict Career Stats: deGrom
Noah K. Murray / USA TODAY Sports
Both Jacob deGrom and Gerrit Cole have had terrific careers. Both have been amazing and have had terrific seasons with the exemption of Cole's down year in 2017 with the Pirates. However, this does go to deGrom as he has better numbers overall and has been better in a lower sample size.
2018-2021 Stats (as of May 9th, 2021):
deGrom 2018-2021 Stats:
81 GS
524.0 IP
27-21 W-L
687 SO
1.99 ERA
199 ERA+
2.21 FIP
0.92 WHIP
.194 AVG
33.8% K%
5.5% BB%
20.8 WAR
Cole 2018-2021 Stats:
84 GS
530.1 IP
46-14 W-L
762 SO
2.61 ERA
166 ERA+
2.72 FIP
0.94 WHIP
.191 AVG
36.8% K%
6.4% BB%
16.9 WAR
Verdict 2018-2021 Stats: deGrom
Noah K. Murray / USA TODAY Sports
Both Jacob deGrom and Gerrit Cole are terrific players and this is clear. deGrom has been better over the last few years and this has continued into 2021. deGrom is always dominant and is truly special in a way that Cole is not. deGrom has also won two Cy Young Awards in two straight years in 2018 and 2019, whereas Cole hasn't won a Cy Young Award yet so far. Both of these players are great though over the last few years, deGrom clearly has been better overall.
2020 Stats:
deGrom 2020 Stats:
12 GS
68.0 IP
4-2 W-L
104 SO
2.38 ERA
182 ERA+
2.26 FIP
0.96 WHIP
.188 AVG
38.8% K%
6.7% BB%
2.6 WAR
Cole 2020 Stats:
12 GS
73.0 IP
7-3 W-L
94 SO
2.84 ERA
151 ERA+
3.89 FIP
0.96 WHIP
.197 AVG
32.6% K%
5.9% BB%
1.5 WAR
Verdict 2020 Stats: deGrom
Noah K. Murray / USA TODAY Sports
Both Jacob deGrom and Gerrit Cole were terrific in the short season during covid in 2020. Both pitchers were terrific and the best players on their respective teams. However, deGrom clearly has been better and his stats have been superior overall. His ERA and FIP in particular were better. This one goes to deGrom again.
2021 Stats (as of May 9th, 2021):
deGrom 2021 Stats:
5 GS
35.0 IP
2-2 W-L
59 SO
0.51 ERA
759 ERA+
0.82 FIP
0.57 WHIP
.134 AVG
48.0% K%
3.3% BB%
2.1 WAR
Cole 2021 Stats:
7 GS
44.2 IP
4-1 W-L
66 SO
1.61 ERA
247 ERA+
1.29 FIP
0.72 WHIP
.181 AVG
40.2% K%
1.8% BB%
2.2 WAR
Verdict 2021 Stats: deGrom
Noah K. Murray / USA TODAY Sports
This is a close one though it again goes to the Mets ace Jacob deGrom. He has had an outstanding and historic start to his season in 2021. Gerrit Cole has also been terrific but not to the same level as the Mets ace. This one goes to deGrom, though it is close.
Final Verdict: deGrom:
Noah K. Murray / USA TODAY Sports
This is a close contest though overall deGrom has been the better player. deGrom is special and like no other pitcher we have seen in years since Kershaw's dominance in the early 2010s. deGrom has been the best pitcher in baseball for years since his insane and unique 2018 Cy Young season. deGrom is the better pitcher and wins the award for the best pitcher in New York and the best overall in baseball.