SAN FRANCISCO — Jacob deGrom’s trip to the doctor Monday left the Mets still hopeful their ace will return this season.
After an MRI exam last week and consultation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache indicated deGrom’s elbow swelling had subsided, but not enough to resume throwing, the pitcher was examined by Dr. David Altchek, and told, according to manager Luis Rojas, that the inflammation was “improving.”
Even so, deGrom’s shutdown will remain into next week, at least, according to the manager. Once deGrom begins throwing he will need a buildup that would take him deep into September before he could potentially rejoin the Mets.
“He is still in that two-week period,” acting general manager Zack Scott said before the Mets lost 7-5 to the Giants at Oracle Park. “Usually then we re-image and take it from there. Assuming it continues to look better, start building him back up.”
DeGrom last pitched for the Mets on July 7. He was placed on the injured list after returning from the All-Star break with right forearm tightness. In recent weeks the discomfort has stemmed from swelling in the elbow.
Tomas Nido was placed on the IL with a sprained left thumb — an injury he had been dealing with in recent days, according to Scott. The Mets recalled Patrick Mazeika from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the need at catcher. Trevor Williams was also recalled from Syracuse to provide the team with additional bullpen depth following Carlos Carrasco’s abbreviated start Sunday. Geoff Hartlieb was optioned.
Noah Syndergaard is expected to face hitters in live batting practice, perhaps twice on this road trip, according to Scott. If that goes well the right-hander could start a minor league rehab assignment shortly thereafter. Scott has indicated that Syndergaard — who is rehabbing from March 2020 Tommy John surgery — could join the Mets bullpen in early September.
Rojas said he spoke to his father, Felipe Alou, on a Zoom call before the Mets departed for the West Coast. Alou, who lives in the Dominican Republic, still serves as a senior adviser for the Giants. Rojas said he and his dad talk baseball, but avoid discussing the inner-workings of their specific teams.
The Mets are in a stretch of 13 straight games against the Dodgers and Giants. According to the Elias Sports Bureau they are the first team to play 13 straight games against teams with at least a .600 winning percentage at least 100 games into the season since the Blue Jays in 1980.