On a day that saw one prospect sent packing, another one lives another day.  Jacob deGrom started his fourth career major league game on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.  Learning the news that his teammate Rafael Montero was heading back to Las Vegas before the first pitch, deGrom went out and pitched as if his days in the majors depended on it.

DeGrom was overpowering hitters in the early going, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning.  Chase Utley broke up the no-no with a two-out single.  Up to that point deGrom had set down every Phillie he faced in order striking out six in the first 3.2 innings.

Things would change a bit in the bottom of the fifth, when deGrom appeared to have possibly injured himself after a pitch.  The cavalry came out to check on him and deemed him good enough to continue and a collective sigh was heard throughout New York.

In the seventh inning, with a one-hitter in hand, deGrom got himself into trouble which ultimately led to his exit.  A lead-off single by Jimmy Rollins and a walk to Chase Utley, allowed Ryan Howard to do what Ryan Howard does.  With the score 4-0, Howard took the deGrom offering and sent it into the stands to pull within one.  DeGrom was allowed one more batter after that which brough him to 101 pitches and into the clubhouse.

This was a great sign of things to come for deGrom the Mets, and their fans.  He was as dominate as we have seen even with the small sample size of starts in the majors.

Jacob deGrom’s line for Saturday: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 11 K

Next scheduled start for deGrom is Thursday June 5th against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.