Photo: Ed Delany, Metsmerized Online

UPDATED POST: 4/1/22, 8:40 AM

Buck Showalter announced on Friday morning that Jacob deGrom had been scratched from his start today and that Felix Peña will take his place.

DeGrom is headed for an MRI on Friday morning around 9:30 a.m., and we will keep you posted with further details.

ORIGINAL POST: 3/31/22, 21:55

Jacob deGrom felt tightness in his right throwing shoulder while playing catch on Thursday, says manager Buck Showalter. The Mets have not officially announced anything but he is believed to be scratched from his scheduled start on Friday.

If he does not pitch, then he will undergo an MRI.

DeGrom last pitched on Sunday, March 27, against the St. Louis Cardinals. In it, deGrom threw three innings, allowed four hits, one run, and struck out five batters. This spring he’s thrown five innings across two starts, striking out 10 batters.

Any injury news is concerning but with deGrom the concern multiplies. He reported to camp feeling healthy after losing the back half of a record-breaking season to injury.

Prior to spring training, general manager Billy Eppler stated “I don’t have any reason to be (concerned),” about the star pitcher.

The two-time Cy Young winner said he’d be ready to go at the end of last season if the Mets were in a playoff hunt but his services were not needed. So Eppler’s statement was not much of a surprise.

DeGrom believes his injury last year was worsened due to the way his arm was positioned in an MRI machine. That MRI ended up revealing nothing more than a mild forearm strain.

Mets president Sandy Alderson referred to deGrom’s injury at that time as a partial ligament tear. After inflammation subsided it was revealed that deGrom’s ulnar collateral ligament was completely intact and he resumed throwing.

Over the last two seasons, deGrom missed time due to injuries to his elbow, lat, back, neck, shoulder, and forearm.

Last season, deGrom was shut down when he felt tightness in his forearm and he stopped throwing.

The hope for deGrom is the injury is nothing more than a minor tweak and he can resume his throwing regimen in time to not miss any time in the regular season. With the way his health has trended, that’s not any kind of guarantee.