Those who want to see Jacob deGrom trotted out to spin a gem under current conditions, at this point, just want it for their own selfish reasons. It makes sense, the New York Mets ace has put together the greatest start to a season by a pitcher since they banned the spitball.
But these aren’t your same-old Mets. This is a completely different team rounded out with competence and rationale (what a concept). One that doesn’t need to increase the risk of losing deGrom for the long-term as he struggles with injury issues.
After setting down the first nine Chicago Cubs he faced, striking eight of them while adding an RBI single to his budding offensive ledger, deGrom was pulled after the third inning due to right shoulder soreness.
It lowered his 2021 season ERA to 0.54 with 111 strikeouts in 67 innings of work.
After saying he was “pretty confident that this is nothing,” deGrom saw a doctor on Thursday, who saw no issues. However, the Mets will seek a second opinion, per Jon Heyman — especially because this is already the third separate injury he’s suffered this season.
This was his first start since being pulled early last Friday against the San Diego Padres because of flexor tendinitis in his right arm. In early May, he missed two starts due to right-side tightness that first began on May 4 when he scratched from his start just hours before first pitch.
“This is getting old,” deGrom admitted. “I want to be out there competing instead of coming out of these games with these little [things].”
Encouraging prognosis or not, the Mets don’t necessarily need to push deGrom to make his next scheduled start thanks to their current run of form.
Entering Thursday night’s action, the Mets were 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2016 season and held a five-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Placing deGrom on the 10-day injured list and skipping a start or two isn’t going to make or break the Mets’ season as it might have in years past.
That’s a testament to just how deep this team is and how drastic the cultural revolution within the front office and clubhouse has been.
It will also guarantee that he’s 100% — or as close to it as possible — to continue his assault on the history books while a Mets team that suddenly looks poised to be put in the conversation as a legitimate playoff contender in the National League.
