Jacob deGrom told reporters on Aug. 3 that he was scheduled to have another MRI in "10 days" to look at the inflammation in his elbow, which flared up while he was recovering from forearm tightness that took him out just before the All-Star break.
The Mets ace hasn't pitched since, and with that MRI coming any day now, manager Luis Rojas told reporters on Thursday that deGrom still isn't throwing, and won't until the results of that MRI are examined.
"He was back, he was in the dugout yesterday," Rojas said. "He's not cleared to throw yet. We're still a couple days away from getting permission from the doctors to throw. I don't know which of the next couple of days he has the MRI and he gets a look."
As for Noah Syndergaard, who dealt with his own elbow inflammation back in May while working his way back from last year's Tommy John surgery, Rojas said the righty is still throwing bullpens and could face live hitters soon, but isn't sure exactly when that will be.
With less than two months left in the season, Syndergaard would need time on a rehab assignment to build up his arm strength, even if he is going to be limited to a bullpen role, so time is running out for him to have an impact on the stretch run.
"I'm not familiar with the schedule," Rojas said. "I know we're talking about that as one of the steps moving forward. I don't know if that's the next step, but he has been throwing his bullpens. He threw one the other day…he's working really hard. you guys see him out there every day working…but as far as his schedule and when he's gonna face hitters, that's gonna come soon, but I don't know if that's the next step."
Javier Baez was not in the starting lineup for game one of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals, and hasn't been in the lineup since he was pulled from Sunday's game with hip tightness. Rojas said the shortstop could be available off the bench, but his availability as a starter for game two is still unknown.
"We don't know about him starting yet," Rojas said. "We know about the availability, it will be the same as the last two games, come off the bench right now for game one. In between games or as the game progresses, we'll see what his status is and how he responds to treatment."
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