Mets' Carlos Carrasco exits with lower back tightness

Jun 22, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (59) pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' Carlos Carrasco exits vs. Astros with lower-back tightness

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/22/22

As has routinely been the case for the 2022 New York Mets, positive injury updates were once again quickly followed by yet another worrisome setback.

Per Alex Smith of SNY, Mets starting right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco exited Wednesday's outing at the Houston Astros after just 53 pitches and 2.1 innings of work.

Carlos Carrasco has exited the game in the third inning. pic.twitter.com/5SEgqbzstW
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 22, 2022

The Mets later announced Carrasco experienced lower back tightness. He surrendered five earned runs on four hits and three home runs before he entered the clubhouse and seemed to be visibly uncomfortable while completing the journey from the bump.

Carrasco, 35, began the day holding an 8-2 record with a 3.96 ERA. His status for his next scheduled start likely won't be known before Thursday at the earliest.

Ahead of Wednesday's development, the Mets were already without right-hander Tylor Megill as well as aces Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. Megill is in the middle of his second lengthy stint on the injured list this season after he was shut down from throwing for at least four weeks last Friday due to a right shoulder strain, and deGrom reportedly won't make his campaign debut until around next month's All-Star break as he looks to fully recover from the stress reaction in his right scapula that's kept him a spectator since the end of spring training.

Scherzer, meanwhile, hasn't pitched in a big league game since May 18 because of an oblique strain but is on track to return to the rotation this coming Sunday after he completed a rehab start with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Tuesday.

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