The Best Strikeout Performances by Jacob deGrom

Few pitchers in baseball history have combined electric stuff with surgical precision the way Jacob deGrom has. From his breakout Cy Young season in 2018 through his historic 2021 campaign and beyond, deGrom has authored some of the most dominant strikeout games the sport has ever seen. These performances are not just about raw punchout totals—they reflect unmatched command, an evolving pitch mix, and an ability to rise to the occasion against the toughest lineups. Let’s break down the games that define his legacy and examine the qualities that make him a once-in-a-generation force on the mound.

August 18, 2015 – 11 Strikeouts vs. Baltimore Orioles

Before he was a two-time Cy Young winner, deGrom was a rising star. In 2015, still relatively early in his career, he struck out 11 Orioles in seven innings of one-run ball. He allowed only four hits and one walk. This game featured the first real glimpse of his elite swing-and-miss ability—his slider posted a 40% whiff rate that night, and his fastball touched 98 mph. The Mets won 5–1, and deGrom finished the season with a 2.54 ERA and 205 strikeouts, earning his first All-Star selection and finishing seventh in Cy Young voting. This performance signaled that a new ace was emerging in Queens.

May 18, 2018 – 14 Strikeouts vs. Philadelphia Phillies

This game marked the beginning of deGrom's reign as the most unhittable pitcher in baseball. Over seven innings, he fanned 14 Phillies while allowing just two runs on six hits. His fastball sat at 97 mph, and his slider generated 10 swings-and-misses. What stood out was his ability to go deep into counts without losing effectiveness—he threw 111 pitches and still had life on his heater in the seventh. This was the first time deGrom reached 14 strikeouts in a game, and it set the tone for a season in which he posted a league-leading 1.70 ERA and 269 strikeouts. It was the start of something historic.

June 28, 2018 – 13 Strikeouts vs. Atlanta Braves

Just over a month later, deGrom matched his season high (at the time) with 13 strikeouts against the Braves. He went eight innings, scattering six hits and walking only two. His changeup was particularly devastating—Braves hitters whiffed on 8 of 15 swings against it. The Mets won 3–0, and deGrom lowered his ERA to 1.51. This game is often cited as the moment he cemented himself as the clear frontrunner for the Cy Young Award, which he would win unanimously. The masterful command and poise he displayed that night became the template for his later dominance.

September 6, 2019 – 10 Strikeouts (Playoff Push)

While deGrom’s 2019 season was not as statistically dominant as 2018 or 2021, he still delivered big performances when the Mets were fighting for a wild card spot. On September 6, he struck out 10 Phillies in seven scoreless innings. He allowed only three hits and walked one. This game snapped a brief slump and reaffirmed his reputation as a stopper. The Mets won 5–0, and deGrom’s ERA fell to 2.70. Though the Mets ultimately missed the playoffs, this start was a reminder of his ace mentality and ability to rise when the stakes were highest.

April 28, 2021 – 15 Strikeouts vs. Boston Red Sox

DeGrom’s 2021 season was arguably the greatest stretch of pitching in modern baseball. On April 28, he struck out 15 Red Sox batters over six innings, allowing just one hit and no walks. That's right: 15 strikeouts, one hit, zero walks, six innings. He became the first pitcher in MLB history to record 15 strikeouts and no walks in a start of six or fewer innings. His fastball averaged 99.2 mph that night, and he threw 15 swings-and-misses on his slider alone. The Mets won 2–1, but the story was deGrom's otherworldly command. This game is a masterpiece, a pinpoint demonstration of how velocity, movement, and control can combine to produce an utterly unhittable performance.

May 19, 2021 – 14 Strikeouts vs. Atlanta Braves

Just three weeks later, deGrom struck out 14 Braves in seven innings of one-run ball. He allowed only three hits and one walk. At this point in 2021, he had a 0.80 ERA through eight starts, and opposing hitters were batting .135 against him. His four-seam fastball and slider were nearly unhittable, but his curveball also generated six whiffs. This game was part of a stretch where deGrom struck out at least 10 batters in five consecutive starts. It was a run of dominance that had not been seen since the peak of Pedro Martinez.

June 2, 2021 – 14 Strikeouts and 11 Consecutive K's vs. Miami Marlins

Perhaps the most incredible single-game achievement of deGrom's career came on June 2, 2021, against the Miami Marlins. He struck out 14 batters in seven innings, allowing just one hit. But the jaw-dropping statistic was this: he struck out 11 consecutive batters at one point, tying the modern-era record for consecutive strikeouts. No pitcher had ever struck out 11 straight batters while also allowing one hit or less in a start of at least seven innings. It was a performance that defied logic and showcased his ability to completely take over a game. The streak began in the second inning, and every Marlin who stepped into the box for the next three frames was sent back to the dugout shaking his head. The sequence featured a mix of rising fastballs, diving changeups, and biting sliders that left hitters helpless.

June 16, 2021 – 10 Strikeouts (and a Home Run) vs. Chicago Cubs

DeGrom not only dominated on the mound but also showed he could help his own cause. He struck out 10 Cubs over six innings, allowing no runs and only two hits. Meanwhile, he hit a two-run homer—his fourth of the season—making him the first pitcher since 2010 to hit a home run in a game where he also struck out 10. The Mets won 6–2, and deGrom's ERA dropped to 0.54. For context, by the end of June 2021, his ERA was the lowest through 12 starts in the modern era (minimum 70 innings). The man was doing things no one had ever seen.

July 30, 2021 – 15 Strikeouts vs. Cincinnati Reds

To cap off his 2021 season, deGrom delivered another 15-strikeout performance in late July, this time against the Reds. He went seven innings, allowing two earned runs while walking one. He threw 116 pitches and generated 25 swings-and-misses overall. His fastball velocity was up, averaging 99.4 mph, and his slider was nearly unhittable, with a 62% whiff rate. Although injuries cut his season short, this game proved that even after a long year of dominance, deGrom still had plenty left in the tank. It was his third 15-strikeout game of the season, a feat matched only by a handful of pitchers in baseball history.

What Makes deGrom’s Strikeout Ability So Special?

Elite Fastball Velocity and Movement

DeGrom’s four-seam fastball averages around 98 mph at peak, but it’s not just the speed—it has elite vertical movement. He releases the ball from a low three-quarter slot, creating a flat approach angle that makes the ball appear to rise. Hitters consistently swing under it, leading to whiffs. According to Statcast, his fastball spin rate and induced vertical break rank among the best in the league. When he mixes in a sinker at 96 mph with run, batters cannot sit on anything. The combination of velocity and movement makes his fastball a strikeout weapon in any count.

Devastating Slider and Changeup

DeGrom’s slider is arguably the best in baseball. It has high spin, sharp lateral movement, and a velocity differential of about 8–10 mph off his fastball. He throws it in any count, and batters swing and miss over 50% of the time against it. His changeup, while used less often, is a devastating weapon against lefties. It has late fade and tumble, often diving below the strike zone. In his 2021 season, his combined whiff rate on all pitches was over 40%, the highest in the majors. He also added a sweeper in 2023, giving hitters yet another headache.

Command and Control

Strikeout artists often walk many batters, but not deGrom. He consistently posts walk rates below 5%, and in 2021 his BB/9 was just 1.5. He can paint the corners with his fastball, back-foot slide to righties, and bury his changeup in the dirt. This precision forces hitters to expand the zone, leading to more strikeouts. Few pitchers have ever combined such high swing-and-miss ability with such impeccable control. It is this control that allows him to sustain high strikeout totals deep into games even when he is not at his sharpest.

Mental Toughness and Poise

DeGrom’s demeanor on the mound is stoic and focused. He rarely shows emotion, even when the Mets provide little run support (a frequent occurrence from 2018–2020). This mental resilience allows him to execute pitches in high-leverage situations. He has a knack for raising his game in big moments, such as striking out the side with runners on base. His ability to maintain his mechanics under pressure is a key reason he can sustain high strikeout totals deep into games. He does not get rattled; he simply fires strike after strike.

Comparing deGrom’s Strikeout Games to Other Greats

To put deGrom’s performances in context, consider that his career strikeout rate (K/9) of 11.2 is the second-highest all time among pitchers with at least 1,000 innings, trailing only Chris Sale (11.3). His 2021 season saw a K/9 of 14.3, the highest single-season mark for any pitcher in the last 20 years (minimum 80 innings). By comparison, peak Pedro Martinez had a K/9 of 13.2 in 1999. Prime Randy Johnson peaked at 13.4 in 2001. DeGrom’s combination of velocity, movement, and command has produced strikeout games that rival those of Hall of Famers.

In 2021, deGrom struck out 14 or more batters three times. Only two other pitchers since 2010 have done that in a season: Max Scherzer (four times in 2016) and Randy Johnson (three times in 2004). When you account for the fact that deGrom missed time with injuries, his per-start dominance is even more remarkable. His 11 consecutive strikeouts tie the modern record with Tom Seaver, Mickey Lolich, and others, but the fact that he did it while allowing only one hit makes it arguably the most dominant streak of all.

Unforgettable Strikeout Streaks

Beyond single-game totals, deGrom has produced jaw-dropping strikeout streaks that amplify his legend. The 11 consecutive strikeouts against the Marlins is the headline, but there are other sequences worth noting. From May 31 to July 9, 2021, deGrom struck out at least 10 batters in each of his six starts. That streak tied a franchise record set by Pedro Martinez and was the longest by any pitcher since Max Scherzer in 2015. During that stretch, he compiled 76 strikeouts in 42 innings, a rate of 16.3 K/9. No pitcher has ever sustained such a rate over a month in the modern era. It was a run that left fans and analysts grasping for superlatives.

In 2021, deGrom also recorded a streak of 20 consecutive strikeouts without a walk at one point, a rare feat that underscores his pitch efficiency. When he is on, batters simply do not make contact.

Impact on the New York Mets and Baseball

DeGrom’s strikeout games have often been the Mets’ only path to victory during lean offensive periods. From 2018 to 2021, the Mets scored an average of just 3.5 runs per game in deGrom’s starts, and he still managed to win a Cy Young award in 2018 with a 10–9 record. His ability to dominate despite minimal support made him a folk hero in Queens. These games also elevated the entire pitching staff—his presence gave the bullpen days off, and his work ethic inspired younger pitchers like Marcus Stroman and David Peterson.

On a broader scale, deGrom’s strikeout games have been a reminder of the artistry of pitching. In an era where launch angles and exit velocities dominate analysis, deGrom has shown that a pitcher can still overthrow the game’s best hitters. His performances are studied by coaches and players alike, and they have redefined expectations for modern aces. For further reading on his pitch arsenal and mechanics, check out Fangraphs’ analysis of deGrom’s evolving pitch mix or MLB.com’s recap of his 2021 historic run. To dive deeper into the fastest pitch velocity leaders, visit Baseball Savant’s pitch arsenal leaderboard. For a comprehensive look at his career accolades, see his Baseball-Reference page.

What Lies Ahead for deGrom’s Strikeout Legacy?

Injuries have limited deGrom’s innings in recent years, but when healthy, he remains the most dominant pitcher in baseball. His strikeout rate has actually increased in his 30s, a reflection of his refined pitch mix and elite mechanics. If he can stay healthy for a full season, he has the potential to break the single-game strikeout record (20, shared by Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, and Max Scherzer). He has already struck out 15 batters multiple times, and his repertoire suggests a 20-strikeout game is within reach. Even after signing with the Texas Rangers in 2023, deGrom continued to flash his elite swing-and-miss ability, striking out 11 in a game against the Royals early that season before a forearm injury sidetracked him.

Fans should also note that deGrom’s strikeout prowess may improve as he gains confidence in his sweeper, a pitch he introduced in 2023. Early returns show it has generated whiffs at a high rate. At 36, deGrom is still evolving, which is a scary thought for opposing hitters. His legacy is still being written, and with every healthy start, he adds another line to the ledger of greatness.

Conclusion

Jacob deGrom’s most impressive strikeout games are not just statistical outliers—they are works of art. From his 14-strikeout debut against the Phillies in 2018 to his 15-strikeout masterpiece against the Red Sox in 2021 and his record-tying 11 consecutive strikeouts, each performance demonstrates a masterclass in pitching. His combination of fastball velocity, elite secondary pitches, pinpoint command, and mental fortitude places him in the conversation with the greatest strikeout pitchers of all time. Whether you are a Mets fan, a baseball historian, or a young pitcher learning the craft, deGrom’s strikeout games offer endless lessons and thrills.

Jacob deGrom’s legacy is still being written, but the strikeout games he has already delivered will be remembered as some of the finest ever witnessed.