Jacob DeGrom Will Try To Make Next Start, Mickey Callaway Says

By WFAN.com

Mets manager Mickey Callaway says Jacob deGrom's elbow checked out fine in a medical exam and the right-hander will try to make his next scheduled start Monday."Nothing wrong with him," Callaway told reporters at Citi Field on Thursday. "He's going to resume playing catch tomorrow and try to make his start Monday. We're going to really hone in on him and make sure everything is 100 percent if he's going to make that start on Monday. The MRI looked good. He went to see the doctors this morning at HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) and had an exam, and all's good."

Update on Jacob deGrom. #Mets pic.twitter.com/iyF7zSSJN6

Callaway's remarks came shortly after a New York Daily News report, citing Mets sources, said deGrom was expected to miss at least four starts with the hyperextended elbow. The newspaper also reported that deGrom's MRI revealed no ligament damage, which Callaway confirmed.

DeGrom left Wednesday's night game against the Braves after four innings with discomfort in the elbow. The left-hander suffered the injury while striking out in the third inning.

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"He came in and said, 'My arm hurts on that last swing, so I am not going to swing the rest of the night,'" Callaway said Wednesday night. "He said it feels fine throwing, he hadn't had any issues throwing, so he went back out." 

DeGrom said Thursday he will skip one bullpen session and batting practice before trying to go Monday. He added that he won't be worried about his elbow when he does return to the mound.

"They said there was nothing on the MRI, so, I mean, my head's pretty clear," he said.

Through seven starts this season, deGrom is 3-0 with a 1.87 ERA, 54 strikeouts and 11 walks. On Wednesday, he pitched four scorless innings, allowing two hits, striking out six and extending his scoreless innings streak to 18 1/3.

Callaway indicated Wednesday night he was considering Corey Oswalt or Matt Harvey to take deGrom's spot in the rotation if he cannot pitch.

After losing five of their last seven, the Mets enter Thursday's game against the Braves with a 17-11 record and sitting a half-game behind Atlanta in the National League East.