Jacob deGrom listed as day-to-day after MRI doesn’t reveal anything concerning

The Mets got a bit of good news today regarding the nature of Jacob deGrom’s back injury, which he suffered during yesterday’s simulated game. An MRI on the right-hander “did not show anything concerning”, and he is officially listed as day-to-day. The Mets have diagnosed the injury as back muscle tightness.

The reigning two-time Cy Young winner left his simulated start on Tuesday after just one inning, and video posted by SNY showed him grimacing as he walked off the mound. Luis Rojas provided an update during his press conference earlier today, stating that the ace would be going in for an MRI and that it was too early to know how this would affect his status for Opening Day. The result of the MRI is certainly good news, as it does not seem to be anything too serious.

Prior to the setback, deGrom was on schedule to start against the Braves at Citi Field on July 24, and it’s more than likely he would have taken the mound in one of the team’s two exhibition starts against the Yankees this weekend. MLB recently ranked the team’s starting rotation at eighth-best in the league, which is due in large part to deGrom’s dominance over the last two seasons.

Along with deGrom, the rotation is expected to include Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, Rick Porcello, and Michael Wacha, with Noah Syndergaard missing the year due to Tommy John surgery. The hope is that deGrom will not be forced to miss any time during the regular season, but if necessary, the team could call upon Walker Lockett or Corey Oswalt in his absence.