Jacob deGrom dazzles again but leaves Mets game vs. Padres with right flexor tendinitis

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NEW YORK — Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom looked unstoppable Friday night against the San Diego Padres, who could hardly touch him.

With every strikeout, the Citi Field crowd — now at increased capacity — roared. And when deGrom smoked a two-run single to help his own cause and chase his counterpart, Blake Snell, the ballpark erupted. 

And then, that excitement turned to fear, worry and concern. 

DeGrom departed the game after six innings because of right flexor tendinitis, the Mets said. The Mets (31-24) defeated the Padres, 3-2, in the series opener but deGrom’s injury scare might dampen the thrill of victory. 

After deGrom finished the sixth inning, he entered the dugout and talked with head athletic trainer Brian Chicklo. Minutes later, Luis Guillorme went in the on-deck circle to hit for deGrom. 

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom leaves the field during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres.

 (Photo: Frank Franklin II, AP)

This seemed like a cause for concern because deGrom had one-hit the Padres (37-28) to that point. He had struck out 10 while walking none. The Padres looked helpless against him. 

The Mets had no reason to pull him. 

Unless, of course, he suffered an injury. 

In the top of the seventh, Miguel Castro took over for deGrom. Castro, who entered with a three-run lead, surrendered a double to Fernando Tatis Jr. and a home run to Jake Cronenworth. 

Suddenly, the Mets led by only a run. They had to find a way to piece together the rest of the game against a talented lineup. 

Another tough part of this contest: Castro left in the eighth due to neck stiffness. 

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Losing deGrom for any amount of time would be a blow. He is, without question, the Mets’ most valuable player. 

And he might be the NL MVP right now. 

DeGrom on Friday lowered his season ERA to 0.56. According to MLB, it is the lowest ERA through 10 starts of a season since earned runs became an official stat in 1913. 

Another crazy statistic: After deGrom’s two-run single off Snell in the fifth inning — which knocked Snell out of the game — the right-hander now has more RBI (five) than earned runs (four) this season. DeGrom is batting .400. 

In May, deGrom went on the injured list with right side tightness. He missed around two weeks. 

DeGrom on Friday took a perfect game into the fifth inning, then lost it when Wil Myers hit a one-out single. However, catcher James McCann caught Myers stealing right after that. 

In the bottom half of that inning, Kevin Pillar and Billy McKinney hit back-to-back doubles, the second of which scored a run. Two batters after that, deGrom ignited the crowd with his latest offensive highlight. 

The Mets, clinging to a one-run lead, called on closer Edwin Diaz to earn the four-out save with a runner on base in the eighth. He earned the final out of that frame, then escaped the ninth after allowing a two-out hit.  

But even with a win in front of a rowdy crowd, deGrom’s injury scare is front and center. 

Justin Toscano is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. Email: toscanoj@northjersey.com; Twitter: @justinctoscano 

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