Mets ace Jacob deGrom to make scheduled start Monday vs. Braves

New York Mets ace and National League Most Valuable Player candidate Jacob deGrom will not miss a single start due to his latest injury scare. 

The Mets confirmed that deGrom will take the bump for the first game of Monday's home doubleheader versus the Atlanta Braves. Reports surfaced Thursday the Mets weren't concerned about the shoulder discomfort that forced him out of last Wednesday's matchup against the Chicago Cubs after only three innings of work, and the 33-year-old received a second opinion on the issue before he was cleared for Monday's outing. 

More than a few fans and analysts assumed deGrom would complete a stint on the injured list after he exited the June 11 start against the San Diego Padres with right flexor tendinitis and then dealt with shoulder pain. 

Per ESPN stats, deGrom leads all of MLB with a 0.54 ERA and 0.51 WHIP, and the Mets remain in first place in the National League East standings.

As Mike Puma noted for the New York Post, the Mets may direct deGrom to not swing during at-bats to protect his shoulder. He's hitting a remarkable .423 with six RBIs on the campaign.