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Jacob deGrom reportedly headed to IL with right side tightness

jason owens
Staff writer
·2 min read
24

Five innings into his return from a lat injury, Jacob deGrom needed another MRI. After the MRI, his next stop is reportedly the injured list.

The New York Mets ace pitched picked up the win in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. But he didn't return for the sixth inning after experiencing back tightness in his right side while warming up between innings. He gave up one earned run while striking out six Arizona batters in the start.

Manger Luis Rojas told reporters after the game that deGrom will undergo an MRI to diagnose the tightness in his lower back.

"He's going for an MRI, just to see what's going on there, to see how he is, have a clear view. Right-side tightness is what we have from our medical staff here, more so in his lower back area on the right side.

"They're taking a look, so once we get the results back, we'll know how he is," Rojas said. "That's what he told our trainer. ... I want to sit and wait and see what it is, and then we can plan as a group what's next."

The MRI on Monday reportedly showed no structural damage, but deGrom is headed to the injured list anyway due to right side tightness.

The Mets are presumably being careful with deGrom since this is the second time in a week that he's experienced tightness or soreness in his right lat.

deGrom scratched on Tuesday after complaining of back tightness

deGrom was a late scratch on Tuesday with inflammation in his right lat. He underwent an MRI instead of pitching in his scheduled start against the St. Louis Cardinals after experiencing back tightness ahead of the game.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 09: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets walks back to the dugout after being removed from the game in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on May 09, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Jacob deGrom lasted five innings in his first start since returning from lat inflammation. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The Mets announced after the MRI revealed the inflammation that deGrom would take a break from throwing to allow the inflammation to subside. Sunday's start was his first appearance since Tuesday's scratch.

With Sunday's result, deGrom carried on with his red-hot start to the season. The two-time Cy Young Award winner improved to 3-2 with an ERA of 0.68 and a 0.60 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and seven walks in 40 innings pitched. He issued three walks on Sunday after allowing four through his first 35 innings.

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