The hits just keep on coming for the Mets, as Jacob deGrom’s scheduled start tonight has been pushed to Saturday because he is dealing with a stiff neck. He was supposed to take the ball on Friday night in the opener against the Washington Nationals. Instead, Matt Harvey will pitch today on regular rest. Harvey is able to pitch on regular rest because of the off day on Monday.
The severity of deGrom’s injury is unknown but it adds to the growing list of injuries the Mets have experienced over the past 36 hours. Lucas Duda is out with a hyperextended left elbow, Wilmer Flores has an infection, Travis d’Arnaud has a wrist contusion, and the Mets are waiting for MRI results on Yoenis Cespedes’s left hamstring. Combine all that with losing five of their last six, and the Mets are not a pretty picture right now.
While pitching depth was supposed to be the Mets’ forte, Steven Matz and Seth Lugo are both on the disabled list. Both of them did begin throwing programs this week but there are no timetables for either of their returns, leaving the Mets to hope it’s nothing more than a stiff neck for deGrom.
The 29-year-old has been stellar in his three starts this season, posting a 1.89 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 19 innings. He’s coming off a start where he punched out 13 Miami Marlins over seven innings.