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Jacob deGrom elbow injury halts the Mets lucky streak (maybe)

By Brad Berreman

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 02: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets warms up in the outfield before the game against the Atlanta Braves on May 2, 2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 02: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets warms up in the outfield before the game against the Atlanta Braves on May 2, 2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The New York Mets had their starting rotation intact for all of April, but May is off to a bad start with Jacob deGrom likely headed for the DL.

With a 4-6 record in the their last 10 games, a loss to the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night, the New York Mets have fallen a half-game back in the NL East after a fast start to the season. Of their 28 games thus far, 27 have been started by the combination of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz. Finally, the super starting rotation Mets have envisioned for years was healthy and fully intact.

Harvey’s demotion to the bullpen in mid-April, after posting a 6.00 ERA in four starts, opened the door for the return of Jason Vargas from a spring training hand injury. Now an injury threatens to alter the Mets’ rotation more, with deGrom leaving his start Wednesday night after just four innings with a hyperextended elbow.

deGrom looked very good before leaving the game, striking out six without a walk and allowing two hits as he extended his scoreless inning streak to 18.1. He seems to be headed for the disabled list, with an MRI coming on Thursday. The exact point of deGrom’s injury has also been confirmed by Mets’ manager Mickey Calloway.

deGrom struck out swinging in the third inning Wednesday night, and the next half inning was his last on the mound for the night. He reportedly said his bicep hurt after that, and left the game after 46 pitches. A hyperextension is a better initial scenario than anything mentioning the ulnar collateral ligament, which can be a pre-cursor to a tear and Tommy John surgery.

Callaway said he would not sleep very well Wednesday night, awaiting the result of deGrom’s MRI.

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If deGrom requires more than having his next start pushed back, the door would be open for Harvey to return to the starting rotation. He has “improved” his ERA for the season to 5.76 over three relief outings (four innings), but Mets’ fans should cringe at the idea this version of “The Dark Knight” will be starting games again.

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