Jacob deGrom wins the American League Cy Young if he makes 25 starts for the Rangers

It's easy to read this and think I am going crazy. In reality what has Jacob deGrom shown in the last couple of seasons that he gets even close to 10 starts, let alone 25 starts?

However, resurgences happen in Major League Baseball, including last season for Atlanta Braves' lefty Chris Sale. The past couple of years for Sale and deGrom have been similar due to injuries.

Both pitchers underwent Tommy John surgery and faced several other setbacks and discomforts along the way. Prior to the 2024 season, Sale only made 31 starts in his last four seasons while deGrom only 35 starts heading into the 2025 season.

For Sale his return was perhaps the best he could've dreamt of as he started 29 games and won the 2024 National League Cy Young and pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, strikeouts and earned run average.

Sale, 35, is a bit younger than deGrom who turns 37 in June, which usually is an age that marks a slowdown for any ballplayer let alone a pitcher. I'd argue though that deGrom is not like any other pitcher.

Prior to this Tommy John in June 2023, deGrom made six starts to the tune of a 2-0 record, 2.67 ERA, 45 strikeouts, only four walks and a 0.75 WHIP in 30.1 innings. Then when returned late last season, he only gave up two runs and struck out 14 in 10.2 innings.

Those numbers still show that deGrom is indeed still deGrom, the pitcher with the talent that won the NL Rookie of the Year and two Cy Young Awards. The important part is remaining healthy and at least right now, he says he feels healthier than he has in a couple of seasons.

“The goal is to get out there as many times as I can,” deGrom said in an MLB.com story in January. “I'm sure we'd have to be smart with it. We don't want to jump to 200-and-something innings, but I'd like to be able to go out there and make 30 [starts]. That's the goal. You sign here to pitch. I haven't been able to do that. So the goal is to go out there and make as many starts as I can to help contribute.”

According to FanGraphs Steamer projections, deGrom is projected to have a 5.1 WAR in 26 starts with an 2.86 ERA , 0.96 WHIP and 206 strikeouts, which would make him the second-most productive starter of the year, behind Paul Skenes.

Those numbers are on par with past Cy Young winners, most notably the 5.1 WAR since their hasn't been a Cy Young winner in a full season with a WAR below 5 since Rick Porcello in 2016.

He doesn't have a lot to prove in terms of productivity but he does have to show he can consistently take the mound and stay healthy. If he does that he should have no issues hitting that 25 start mark and being an instrumental part in the Rangers' season and maybe he even sees that third Cy Young Award this fall.