NEW YORK — The good vibes at Citi Field tangibly turned to dread.
Jacob deGrom exited his start with right shoulder soreness, the Mets announced, after three perfect innings in the Amazin’s 6-3 win over the Cubs on Wednesday night. His early departure came on the heels of his last troubling outing, when he left after six innings on Friday against the Padres with right flexor tendinitis.
On Wednesday against Chicago, deGrom struck out eight of the nine batters he faced. He peppered 100+ mph fastballs across his abbreviated outing, but his start was laborious. DeGrom used 51 pitches to get by in three frames.
Right after he struck out opposing pitcher Robert Stock to end the third, deGrom walked into the dugout and disappeared straight into the Mets tunnel. Head trainer Brian Chicklo followed him and minutes later, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner made the call to the bullpen.
Sean Reid-Foley took over for deGrom in the fourth inning. He allowed an Anthony Rizzo home run, but nothing else over two innings. The Cubs managed just three hits against the Mets pitching staff, a combination of six relievers that did a terrific job covering the final 18 outs after deGrom’s departure.
The Mets (35-25) will try to brush off the disappointment from their ace’s injury and bring out the broomsticks as they go for the four-game sweep against the Cubs on Thursday with Marcus Stroman on the mound.
DeGrom heard MVP chants on the mound and at the plate, the loudest of which arrived after his RBI single in the second inning. The Mets ace has driven in more runs (6) than he’s allowed (4). The crowd, filled up to 70% capacity at Citi Field, went from celebrating deGrom’s performance to mourning his absence.
The two-time Cy Young winner left his 11th start of the year with an MLB-best 0.54 ERA. DeGrom’s right shoulder soreness is his fourth different injury this season alone.
Prior to his right flexor tendinitis on Friday, an injury that was seemingly so minor that deGrom didn’t miss time, he spent a couple of weeks on the IL in May with right side and lower back tightness.
