The Mets got bad news on the Jacob deGrom front as the team prepares to begin a crucial stretch this weekend.
Manager Luis Rojas told reporters on Friday that the two-time Cy Young Award winner went to Los Angeles to receive further evaluation on his latest MRI, and has been recommended to extend his period of no throwing by another two weeks, when he will receive another MRI to see how his elbow inflammation has improved, if at all.
"It came out that it's slightly improving, but there's gonna be two more weeks of no-throw, and to see further imaging after the two weeks," Rojas said.
DeGrom was initially shut down with forearm tightness just before the All-Star break, but has now been monitoring inflammation in his elbow. He hasn't pitched since July 7, and prior to that, dealt with several injuries like lat tightness, shoulder soreness, and a flexor injury.
"He's frustrated," Rojas said. "He wants to pitch and wants to help the team, but there's nothing he can do."
DeGrom was pitching to a 1.08 ERA before the injury, and was generating comparisons to Bob Gibson with his otherworldly dominance. Now, this latest setback pushes a potential return back into September, and the thought of trying to reclaim first place in the NL East and locking up their first playoff berth in five years without their best player is becoming a very real possibility for the Mets.
"We've faced these things all year and I think we've done a really good job," Rojas said. "We've had a lot of significant guys go down…Jacob deGrom is the best pitcher in the game, and he hasn't pitched in over a month. We miss his presence on the field, but we're not gonna think differently than when we did going into spring training…even after hearing this news…I don't think that's gonna put the guys' heads down."
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