A shortened season could have a big effect on Jacob deGrom three-peating as the NL Cy Young Award winner, but Mets teammate Steven Matz doesn't believe that will be the case.

DeGrom is notorious for being locked in at all times when he toes the rubber, but fewer games means there truly is no room for error. Matz knows nothing shakes up the Mets' ace, though.

"No, not really. Everyone will be in the same boat," Matz said, via the Mets, about deGrom winning another Cy Young. "He's still going to go out and dominate. Everyone is playing by the same set of guidelines. It doesn't matter if the season is short or long, he's just going to be himself and that will be pretty good."

It shouldn't be more pressure for deGrom to win the award. But if there is pressure he might put on himself, it's the loss of Noah Syndergaard to Tommy John surgery. Without the Mets' No. 2 behind deGrom, it could be significant down the road for New York, especially if the postseason comes into play.

Matz knows how great Syndergaard is on the mound, too, but the Mets can't worry about that. They must simply work on being their best selves on the bump, and trust in their abilities to make up for Thor being out of the rotation.

"Everyone has to continue to be who they are," Matz said. "Nobody needs to step up, everyone just has do what they are capable of. Sure, losing Syndergaard is tough, because he's a great pitcher, but we have guys who have done this before. Everyone on the staff has the feeling that when they go out to the mound they want to dominate."

Matz continues to work on that quest to dominate in 2020 while staying at home in Nashville. He said that teammate Brad Brach and other major leaguers like White Sox catcher James McCann have been staying in baseball shape together while the league works on finding a way to resume play this season.

It will be a season like no other for MLB, but Matz clearly has confidence in himself and his teammates to make the most of it and accomplish their 2020 goals despite the shortened season. For deGrom, that includes another Cy Young Award trophy in his possession.

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