Jacob deGrom injury update: Forearm tightness delays Mets ace’s return to mound

Jacob deGrom is dealing with another injury issue.

This time, the Mets ace is experiencing tightness in his right forearm. Manager Luis Rojas told reporters Saturday that deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start Monday in Cincinnati against the Reds after he felt the tightness during a bullpen session Friday.

On Sunday, it was reported by Newsday’s Tim Healey that deGrom would be placed on the 10-day injured list, noting that he will not throw until his forearm tightness has gone away.

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Rojas also told reporters that deGrom underwent an MRI on Friday night, which revealed no structural damage. Rojas had said deGrom would be day-to-day before the team placed him on the IL. His last mound appearance was July 7 vs. the Brewers.

The All-Star right-hander has been sidelined multiple times this season because of injury:

• Lat irritation cost him a turn in early May.
• Right side discomfort forced him to the injured list in mid-May. He missed two turns.
• Flexor tendinitis in his pitching elbow cut short his start June 11 against the Padres to six innings.
• Shoulder soreness forced him out of his start June 16 vs. the Cubs after three innings.

He had not missed a turn since May.

DeGrom, 33, was named to the National League All-Star team this season but did not attend the game in Denver last week. He told reporters he wanted to spend the time with his family and “get healthy for the second half.”

He has been historically good when he has been able to take the mound in 2021. He entered the All-Star break with an MLB-best 1.08 ERA (1.24 FIP) and 13.27 strikeouts per nine innings.

Marcus Stroman, Tylor Megill and Taijuan Walker are the Mets’ healthy rotation members coming out of the break. Jerad Eickhoff is an option to fill one of the two open spots. He is already on the 26-man roster and has made two starts for the team this year.