Spring Training is off to a slow start for the Mets as Jacob deGrom is experiencing some stiffness in his lower back.
With a slew of minor injuries plaguing the New York Mets, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that now Jacob deGrom may not be ready for Opening Day. Don’t hold your breath Mets fans. Jacob deGrom may not be ready for Opening Day. But it’s not what you think.
Earlier this Spring, deGrom left camp to be with his wife as they welcomed the birth of their second child. Turns out, sometime during his time away from the team, deGrom developed stiffness in his lower back.
“I felt fine until I had to go [home] and then I don’t know,” deGrom told Newsday’s David Lennon. “I threw the day I got back [here] and felt OK. I was a little stiff, so just more precautionary. We wanted to play it safe versus trying to push through something and hurting something more.
“But after getting looked at — we actually did get pictures of it, and they all came back good. So now it’s just how I feel and today I felt great.”
The de facto Mets ace will throw a bullpen session tomorrow and if all goes well his first Grapefruit League start should be on the horizon. While this injury doesn’t look like anything to be concerned about, his time spent away from the team has cast some doubt on whether he would be available for a potential Opening Day start.
Mickey Callaway says it's not totally clear yet if Jacob deGrom will be built up enough for a potential Opening Day start.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) February 27, 2018
In talking with Mike Puma of the New York Post, Mets manager Mickey Callaway aired his concerns that deGrom may not be built up enough to toe the rubber on Opening Day.
It’s fair to assume that deGrom would get the nod all things aside. The Stetson University alumnus has been the Mets most consistent and durable pitcher over the last four seasons. From Mike Pelfrey to Noah Syndergaard, the Mets have featured a different Opening Day starter in each of the last seven seasons.
If deGrom is unable to go, Syndergaard looks to be the easy choice. Thor would be making his second career start on Opening Day and after his stellar debut against the Houston Astros, he looks poised for a big year.
