Jacob deGrom leaves game with hyper-extended right elbow

Jacob deGrom left the Mets’ Wednesday night game against the Atlanta Braves with what the team later announced as a hyper-extended right elbow. Before leaving the game promptly following the top of the fourth inning, deGrom had been at his very best against a Braves lineup that has proven to be difficult for opposing pitchers so far this season.

There’s no doubt that deGrom has been the Mets’ best pitcher this year. He has thrown 43.1 innings and has a 1.87 ERA and 2.11 FIP with great strikeout, walk, and home run rates. Any extended absence would be a major problem for the Mets, who have barely been able to piece together a competitive five-man rotation so far this season.

Assuming deGrom misses time, Seth Lugo, Matt Harvey, and Robert Gsellman could figure to be candidates for a spot in the rotation. Lugo seems like the most likely pitcher to keep the Mets competitive in games, but the drop-off from deGrom to any of those three would be substantial.