New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for a month before being re-evaluated after an MRI revealed a stress reaction on his scapula that caused inflammation, the team announced Friday.
DeGrom felt tightness in the back of his right shoulder while playing catch Thursday. He was scratched from his spring start Friday.
"We're going to do everything we can to support him in every which way we can," Mets general manager Billy Eppler said, according to "Jake's a resilient person. With time, things heal. And so this is another situation where some time will have him healed, and we'll get him back on the hill."
Max Scherzer will now likely start for the Mets on Opening Day.
DeGrom, a two-time Cy Young winner, was limited to 15 starts in 2021 due to multiple injuries. However, the right-hander was named an All-Star for the fourth time after posting a 1.08 ERA with a career-best 14.3 K/9.
The 33-year-old said in mid-March that he plans to opt out of his contract after this season.