Mets’ Jacob deGrom out for season, faces surgery
By Ted Fleming
New York rotation takes another hit with losing Jacob deGrom as they hope to hold on to Wild Card spot.
The New York Mets were supposed to have one of the more dominant starting staffs in all of baseball, but over the course of the season pitchers began dropping one by one. Now, according to a report at CBS Sports, Jacob deGrom is the latest casualty and will miss the remainder of the season, including any potential postseason games, with an ulnar nerve issue that will likely require surgery.
Sandy Alderson, the Mets general manager, said on Saturday that deGrom had been scratched from his next start because the ulnar nerve in his throwing elbow had not responded the way the team and pitcher had hoped and was likely done for the season.
The Mets started the day holding on to a two-game lead for the second Wild Card slot ahead of the Cardinals, five over Miami and they will be trying to do it with just two hurlers left from the starting five on opening day, Noah Syndergaard and 43-year old Bartolo Colon.
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Three pitchers – Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and deGrom – have landed on the disabled list and have not appeared in a game since. Zack Wheeler was supposed to be back by July after Tommy John surgery pushing Colon to the bullpen, however, he has had setback after setback and he will not be available this season either.
New York has been plugging in anyone who is healthy and lately Seth Lugo, Rafael Montero, Robert Gsellman and Logan Verrett have been asked to carry the load. There is an outside chance that Matz could make it back if the Mets make it to the playoffs. The larger question would be, how effective can he be after a lengthy absence?
At this point, Syndergaard would likely be penciled in to start the one-game play-in Wild Card game, should the Mets get that far, with Colon the possible game one starter in the Division Series. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.