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The Best of the Day: April 23rd, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from April 23, 2021 including DeGrom's historic start to 2021, Russ's triple-double lifts D.C., and more!
Newsweek
The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 4/23 here.
New York Mets SP Jacob deGrom continued his historic start to the 2021 season with a shutout win over the Washington Nationals. deGrom set numerous records and is the early favorite to win his third career Cy Young award. Also, Russell Westbrook’s historic run of triple-doubles has put the Wizards back in postseason contention, the Grizzlies outlasted the Blazers in the game of the day, and PSO dropped its scouting report on former Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle with the NFL Draft less than a week away.
Here is the best of the day from April 23, 2021:
Jacob deGrom’s masterful shutout puts him in unprecedented territory
Jacob deGrom pitched a complete game, striking out a career-high 15 batters and giving up just two hits in the New York Mets’ 6-0 win over the Washington Nationals Friday night. The incredible performance by deGrom put the New York ace in rare company, becoming the first pitcher ever to record 15+ K’s and zero BB with two runs scored on offense in one game.
Jacob deGrom tonight:
— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2021
Set a new career high in Ks (15)
Lowered his ERA to 0.31
Raised his batting average to .545
🤯 pic.twitter.com/NPFaUaupOT
This season, the 32-year-old righty is off to an unbelievable start, posting a Majors-leading 0.31 ERA in 29 IP along with a 0.552 WHIP. He is the first SP ever with 14+ K’s and one or fewer BB in three consecutive starts and now has the most K’s (50) through four starts during a season in MLB history. New York has needed every bit of DeGrom’s brilliance to begin this season, as the Mets offense hasn’t lived up to its preseason hype early on.
Jacob deGrom now has 50 strikeouts this season
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 24, 2021
That's the most by ANY pitcher in his 1st 4 appearances of a season in the modern era (since 1900)
Record HAD been held by 2021 Shane Bieber and 1978 Nolan Ryan at 48!
UNREAL.
New York #Mets SP Jacob deGrom has as many career Wins (71) as a pitcher as he does career Hits (71) as a batter pic.twitter.com/nksBTMw6gv
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 24, 2021
#Mets Jacob deGrom now has 3 straight games of 14 strikeouts and one walk or less.
— Connor Looker (@HotStoveStats) April 24, 2021
No other pitcher in baseball history has done that.
Jacob deGrom is the first pitcher with multiple hits at the plate AND 15+ strikeouts in a game since Ron Villone had 3 hits and 16 strikeouts on September 29, 2000
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 24, 2021
Jacob deGrom is just the 2nd pitcher in MLB history with 50 K and 1 ER (or fewer) in any 4-start span.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 24, 2021
The other is Randy Johnson in 1997 (May 28-June 13).
**Pending inclusion of Negro Leagues statistics** pic.twitter.com/utlS0aJ3II
Related: Stories of the Day
RUSSELL WESTBROOK’S HISTORIC TRIPLE-DOUBLE STREAK HAS REVIVED DC’S SEASON
The Washington Wizards currently hoist the NBA’s second-longest win streak at seven games after their dominant win over OKC. This is largely thanks to the heroic efforts of Russell Westbrook. In his last 16 games, he has 14 triple-doubles, including 10 in the last 11. Additionally, Westbrook is already Washington’s all-time triple-double leader and hasn’t even played a full season with them.
Washington was on pace to be the league’s worst team at the beginning of the year, but are now 9-1 over their last 10 games and have their eyes set on the postseason. With the new rules in this unforeseen year, teams ranked within the top 10 of their conference have a shot at making the playoffs. Currently in the tenth spot, Washington would have to win two play-in games to secure a spot in the playoff field where they’d face the East’s No.1 team in a seven-game series.
The main reason they have this opportunity is due to this historic triple-double streak Westbrook is on. He has one in over half of the games he’s played in this year. The Brodie has needed to put together this unprecedented level of production to pull his team out of the trenches and back into playoff contention. With Washington and Westbrook playing the way they are now, they are poised to make noise in the play-in tournament and potentially go through the gauntlet.
COLORS KEY | FULL WIZARDS OUTLOOK
Most triple doubles over a 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 game span ever https://t.co/deNAEEqayS
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 24, 2021
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Randy came flying out of nowhere
Randy literally out of NOWHERE! pic.twitter.com/tXeD3XwuHn
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 24, 2021
Related: MLB Highlights
PG Russell Westbrook, WAS (W @OKC): 37 PTS (14-23 FG | 3-4 3P), 11 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 3 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (4/23/21) - G Russell Westbrook, WAS
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 24, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Most triple-dubs ever in 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30-GP span
- Longest DC winning streak (7 games) of the season
- Avg career-highs in RPG (11.1) & APG (10.9)
KEY STATS
37 PTS, 11 REB, 11 AST, 14-23 FG (61%), 3-4 3P https://t.co/b67hbGyrmx
Related: Players of the Day
Memphis Grizzlies (130) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (128)
[Highlights] GRIZZLIES (+143) d. @BLAZERS (-161) 130-128 [MEM +3.5 | o233]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
PSO Scouting Report: WR Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) by Ricky Eisenbart
PSO breaks down Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle’s future outlook and how his game will translate to the next level in the NFL
Jaylen Waddle's NFL Scouting Report:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 23, 2021
Physical Tools: A
Game Film: A
Production: ??
Risk: ??
Overall: ??
FULL evaluation: https://t.co/7YRAPkd8S6
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: April 23, 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: Damian Lillard capped off a 50-pt performance by draining a buzzer-beating series-ending 3 to eliminate OKC
April 23, 2019: Capping off a franchise-record postseason performance of 50+ PTS in Game 5, Portland Trail Blazers PG Damian Lillard drained a buzzer-beating series-ending 3PM from just inside half-court to effectively end the Westbrook-George era in OKC 👋pic.twitter.com/gJUGk5D4wk
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 23, 2021
Related: Significant Sports History
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