Mets ace Jacob deGrom shut down another two weeks after setback

Mets ace Jacob deGrom has suffered a setback in his rehab from a forearm issue, as recent testing revealed additional inflammation, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports. He’ll be shut down from throwing entirely for another two weeks.

It’s already been more than three weeks since deGrom pitched in a game, so he’ll need some form of rehab assignment or buildup once he’s ready to begin throwing again. Given that, it’s hard to imagine him returning to a big-league mound for the Mets prior to September.

The Mets have a 3.5-game lead in the National League East, where the Braves and Phillies are nipping at their heels. The Mets clearly had their pitching depth in mind at the deadline, but no one can fill deGrom’s shoes. Carlos Carrasco is returning and Trevor Williams was a fine pickup from the Cubs as a depth option (he was optioned to Triple-A), but the Mets’ viability as a contender would seem to hinge on deGrom’s long-term health.

Clearly, this will be a situation to monitor moving forward. The trade deadline has passed, so the Mets are what they are for the most part, but hopefully, another couple of weeks of rest will be enough to figure out how to get deGrom back on track and ready for the postseason push.