New York Mets superace/NL MVP favorite Jacob deGrom left Friday night’s superb start against the San Diego Padres with right flexor tendonitis. Rather surprisingly, deGrom was good to go — or deemed as such — for his next turn in the rotation against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
And it went just like that last start, only this one was even shorter. deGrom dominated on the mound and drove in another run (giving him six RBIs compared to four earned runs allowed on the season), but left due to injury after three innings pitched.
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.Com, deGrom left with right shoulder soreness.
UPDATE: Jacob deGrom left tonight's game with right shoulder soreness.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 17, 2021
As far as I can tell/recall, deGrom has not suffered from shoulder issues since his rookie season in 2014, when he spent time on the DL with rotator cuff tendinitis.
Obviously, we will need to wait to learn the severity of this episode before drawing conclusions.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 17, 2021
deGrom threw three perfect innings with eight strikeouts, but appeared to be in discomfort on a 1-1 pitch in the third inning to Chicago’s Eric Sogard.
Jacob deGrom exits with right shoulder soreness after three perfect innings and 8 Ks. pic.twitter.com/Cv7GrlXyeH
— MLB (@MLB) June 17, 2021
This is the pitch to Sogard where deGrom showed some discomfort last inning: pic.twitter.com/BbTL68m5xc
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) June 17, 2021
And deGrom was clearly frustrated when heading to the locker room.
https://t.co/lBA6s9dLJY pic.twitter.com/qprGjem3yY
— SportsGrid (@SportsGrid) June 17, 2021
So, this isn’t good, and you can’t help but wonder if it’s in any way whatsoever related to flexor tendonitis he was dealing with. These are different injuries, but anything at all being off can disrupt a pitcher’s mechanics, etc. Now, his results — to go with the velocity and stuff — would suggest he was feeling okay, but who knows.
Either way, shoulder soreness is concerning, especially when it comes to a guy performing better than literally any pitcher in history.
deGrom has a 0.54 ERA and 0.79 FIP in 67 innings pitched, with 111 strikeouts and eight walks allowed. The Mets — who have real title-contending aspirations and are the NL East favorite — need him healthy. Baseball needs him healthy.
