Mets Ace Jacob deGrom Placed on IL, May Undergo MRI on Elbow

DeGrom was dealing with elbow discomfort after playing catch on Friday.

New York Mets righthanded pitcher Jacob deGrom has been placed on the injured list and may undergo an MRI on his elbow on Monday, the Mets announced on Friday.

DeGrom, who was scheduled to start against the Cardinals on Saturday, first experienced elbow discomfort while playing catch on Friday. DeGrom also dealt with sickness over the last week, making him unable to conduct his normal routine between starts.

"Jacob experienced some mild soreness in his throwing arm over the last 24 hours," the Mets said in a statement. "His arm felt significantly better following treatment with our health and performance staff today. Even so, Jacob will be evaluated by our medical team in New York on Monday in the abundance of caution."

On Saturday, Callaway reportedly said deGrom's elbow was "much improved" and that the ace may no longer need an MRI. DeGrom was seen throwing early Saturday morning.

Jacob deGrom throwing a baseball. pic.twitter.com/9G15mIvfCV

— Matt Ehalt (@MattEhalt) April 20, 2019

DeGrom will be eligible to return on Friday, April 26 for the start of New York's series against the Brewers.

DeGrom has not looked like himself in his last two starts, allowing five home runs across both outings. The Minnesota Twins hit three home runs off him while scoring six runs in four innings, while the Atlanta Braves tallied three runs in five innings with two home runs of their own against the Mets' ace. He lost both games and his ERA has rocketed to 3.68.

Those two performances were alarming for the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner considering he gave up just 10 homers all last season. That was part of a historic campaign that saw him post a 1.70 ERA despite getting little run support and posting just 10 wins, the lowest total ever for a Cy Young Award winner.  

DeGrom and the Mets reached an agreement on a new five-year, $137.5 million contract before the season's start. The deal runs through 2023, with an opt-out after 2022 and a team option for the 2024 season.