The New York Mets received some good news today regarding starting pitcher Jacob deGrom. After a two-inning, 46-pitch simulated outing, deGrom told Matt Ehalt of The Record, “Feel like I’m good to go.”
deGrom left his start last Wednesday after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow. What was originally feared to be a major injury turned out to be simply a hyperextension and deGrom was placed on the 10-day DL.
DeGrom on his up-down session pic.twitter.com/5h3JyKl1vV
— Matt Ehalt (@MattEhalt) May 8, 2018
After his outing today, manager Mickey Callaway had this to say, again via Ehalt, “(Pitching coach) Dave (Eiland) said his stuff was crisp. Big relief. We all felt like he was going to be OK be he wanted to make sure we tested him out there and he could go out and go 100 percent.”
Clearly, the team wants to take a cautious approach with their ace pitcher, and rightfully so. In seven starts this season the 29-year-old right-hander already has a 1.7 WAR rating, good for fourth among all MLB among pitchers.
His 2.28 walks per nine innings rank thirteenth in the National League and his 11.22 strikeouts per nine rank fourth. Playing it safe with deGrom appears to have been the correct move.
The only concern that remains is from deGrom himself, whose sole worry is being sure that he’s fully prepared, “I don’t like going that long without pitching. Want to get the reps in.”
Jacob deGrom will throw a bullpen session Friday, likely under close watch from Callaway and Eiland, before making his return from the DL on Sunday against Philadelphia.
According to Ehalt, Callaway has apparently backed off of his previous stance of restricting deGrom from swinging the bat on days that he pitches. He now says the right-hander will be “fine to swing provided he’s healthy.”
We will keep you updated if anything changes with Jacob deGrom’s status for Sunday.
