New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom will undergo an MRI on his back Friday, casting uncertainty on the ace’s availability for Opening Day to the 2020 MLB season.
Jacob deGrom to undergo MRI for back injury
The Mets sent deGrom to the mound for Tuesday’s intrasquad game planning for it to be some final preparation for Opening Day. After just one inning, the two-time Cy Young Award winner departed with back tightness.
Following a night of rest, deGrom showed up at the team’s facility on Wednesday and seemed to still be having some discomfort. With the Mets’ opener set for July 24 against the Atlanta Braves, deGrom will undergo an MRI.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, manager Luis Rojas said the club didn’t notice anything wrong with deGrom during his appearance, but the ace reported an issue to the pitching coach.
The 32-year-old righty was scheduled to take the hill once more at Citi Field on Opening Day in a crucial opener against the division rival. Now with the club awaiting the MRI results, deGrom’s availability is uncertain.
deGrom is coming off another outstanding season in New York. While he fell short of matching his absurd numbers from his 2018 campaign (1.70 ERA, 0.91 WHIP), the righty still came out with another Cy Young Award after posting a 2.43 ERA with a 0.97 WHIP and 255 strikeouts.
The Mets will already be without Noah Syndergaard this season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in March. If deGrom misses time, it would be a devastating blow for this rotation.