Jacob deGrom looks dominant in return to Mets, bullpen immediately ruins it

Jacob deGrom made his long-awaited return to the Mets on Tuesday night and looked right in form with a dominant performance that was immediately ruined.

For the first time since early July 2021, Jacob deGrom took the mound for the New York Mets on Tuesday night. And it looked like he’d never missed an instant in the Big Apple.

Not only did he hit triple-digits numerous times with his fastball in the first inning, including registering at 102 mph with the third pitch of his outing, but he looked great overall. Though he was limited to 59 pitches on the night, he lasted five innings with just three hits and one earned run allowed while striking out six batters.

Against the Washington Nationals, a team that gutted their roster of Juan Soto and Josh Bell at the trade deadline, that should’ve been more than enough for the Mets to get deGrom his first win in over a year.

The bullpen, however, had other plans — ones that they enacted immediately.

Mets bullpen ruins Jacob deGrom’s dominant return

Stephen Nogosek relieved deGrom in the bottom of the sixth inning and proceeded to get a flyout but then hit the next batter before giving up a two-run homer to Luis Garcia. The next batter, Yadiel Hernandez, also took Nogosek yard to put the Mets down 4-1.

Granted, the New York bats didn’t do their returning ace any favors as they entered the ninth inning with just one run and five hits to their credit. But the immediate failure of the bullpen to keep the game close was glaring and quite unfortunate.

Even still, the Mets have to feel good about deGrom. He returned and hit the ground running. For a team sitting in first place in the NL East and trying to protect their lead and with deGrom only getting healthier and able to go deeper into games, that’s a great sign.