Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Jacob deGrom spoke to the media Tuesday afternoon for the first time since he was shut down for two weeks with elbow inflammation.

He said the injury was especially concerning and frustrating because he doesn’t know how it happened. He was recovering for forearm inflammation, then all of a sudden the issue with the elbow popped up. “I feel like I was having the best year of my career,” deGrom told the media.

The latest elbow injury is the sixth different ailment he’s faced this season.

The ace was confident that he’d return this year, though, and his next MRI is scheduled for around August 13. If that comes back clear and he’s pain free, he’ll then start a ramp up program. The Mets haven’t given him a timeline, but an end-of-August return date is probably the best scenario.

When has pitched, deGrom has a 1.08 WHIP and 0.554 WHIP over 92 innings. He’s also struck out 146 batters, which is still good for sixth in the National League despite having five or six less starts than the next five guys behind him.

Now let’s get into the morning briefing.

Latest Mets News

The Mets lost 5-4 to the Marlins Tuesday night, marking their sixth loss in seven games. Their NL East lead has shrunk to 1.5 games. You can read the recap of the game here.

During the game, Steve Cohen tweeted the Mets “have to get our act together soon.”

Cohen’s been almost entirely positive on Twitter with regards to Mets games, but that tweet Tuesday night is a change of tone. The frustrations have made their way all the way to the top.

Miguel Castro returned Tuesday from a brief trip on the COVID-19 list. Castro never tested positive, but he had symptoms Monday morning and reported it to the team trainer. Castro seemingly tested negative and the symptoms subsided. Geoff Hartlieb was sent back to Triple-A in his place.

Luis Rojas said in a press conference Tuesday that Robert Gsellman‘s lat tear has fully healed and he will begin throwing soon. This is ahead of schedule, and Gsellman could now possibly return in early September if all goes well.

Binghamton Rumble Ponies coach Joe Raccuia was hit with a batted ball in the dugout during a game Tuesday night. Jacob Resnick was all over the news and reported an ambulance had to come onto the field and take off Raccuia in a stretcher.

The Mets released minor-leaguer Joe Genord, their ninth-round pick in 2019. He hit .203 over 423 at-bats in Short-A and High-A.

Mets prospect Jaylen Palmer was promoted to High-A Brooklyn Tuesday night. It was a bit of a homecoming for the Flushing-born infielder. He’ll be playing in Brooklyn the remainder of the minor-league season after slashing .319/.387/.489/.876 in St. Lucie in July.

Latest MLB News

After Gerrit Cole tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, the Brian Cashman announced on Tuesday that Jordan Montgomery did, too.

So, I had no idea where Hunter Renfroe was from, until I saw him shoeless on a golf course catching a frog. Now I KNOW he’s country (from the Crystal Springs, Mississippi, more specifically).

Also, the Astros went to a fan-filled Dodger Stadium for the first time since the ‘Stros were revealed to have cheated during much of their 2017 World Series run, where they eventually beat the Dodgers at the end of it.

It went about how you’d expect.

Latest on MMO

John Jackson wrote about Tylor Megill‘s tough first inning on Monday and his subsequent recovery from it.

John Flanigan covered a handful of topics on the site Tuesday. He wrote about: Pete Alonso‘s power streak, Kevin Pillar and Javier Baez being some of the good-n-tough guys and the Mets’ Players of the Week.

A handful of MMO contributors wrote about their reactions to Friday’s trade deadline in a roundtable.

On This Date in Mets History

Met legend Cleon Jones turns 79 today.

Read up on Jones’ recent efforts restoring homes of seniors in Africatown, Alabama–a town founded by survivors of the last ship that brought slaves to the United States. Jones grew up close to Africatown.

Also on August 4, this time in 1985, Dwight Gooden won his 11th straight game in a row, breaking a franchise record by who else but Tom Seaver. Fittingly, Seaver notched his 300th career win that day while pitching for the White Sox.

Twenty-seven years later, Mike Baxter set a team record with five walks in a nine-inning game. This came just a couple days after Baxter’s return from the shoulder injury he suffered while saving Johan Santana‘s no-hitter.

Let’s go Mets!