PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets could be hit with bad news by Friday afternoon. Right-hander Jacob deGrom is scheduled to pitch against the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla. But manager Buck Showalter entered the media room after Thursday night’s 7-3 loss to the Nationals and said that deGrom felt tightness in the back of his shoulder while playing catch, bringing that start into question.
According to Showalter, deGrom was feeling great until his last couple of throws. deGrom is having a great spring, allowing one run in five innings with 10 strikeouts.
“We are going to see how he is in the morning before we scratch him. But he has to be pretty convincing to pitch him tomorrow,” the skipper said. “I’ll be surprised if he pitches tomorrow — rain or no rain.”
Will deGrom be ready for Opening Day? Showalter would not say.
If deGrom is still in pain on Friday, he will likely get the shoulder immediately looked at. Injuries have been nothing new to deGrom. He missed most of the second half of ‘21 because of a forearm injury.
