DeGrom last pitched in the Majors on May 9 in a 4-2 win over Arizona. He struck out six and allowed just one hit over five innings but left the game early with tightness in his back and right side. He had already missed a start with inflammation in the right lat, and the two-time Cy Young Award winner landed on the injured list May 11.
The Mets have stayed in first place without him, and they check in at 21-19. However, with the recent slide, the lead over the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies is down to 1.5 games.
DeGrom made one rehab start in the Minor Leagues and also threw a bullpen session to make sure he was ready to return. In the Low-A MiLB game, he struck out eight batters in three shutout innings.
In six starts this season, deGrom is 3-2 with a 0.68 ERA despite receiving very little run support. He has 65 strikeouts to just seven walks over 40 innings of work. The Mets start a seven-game homestand on Monday, and deGrom is scheduled to face the 18-20 Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. He won at Colorado on April 17 with 14 strikeouts over six innings of work.
The Mets are -125 to win the NL East, with the Braves at +200. They have the third-best NL odds at +500 to make the World Series and are +950 to win it all for the first time since 1986.
DeGrom is a big favorite to win his third Cy Young with -143 odds, and the next best odds are with Corbin Burnes at +500. He is also listed at +850 to win the Most Valuable Player award, trailing just Ronald Acuna Jr. (+200) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (+450).
Tatis, Padres Streaking
Speaking of Tatis Jr., the San Diego Padres completed their second-ever 9-0 homestand as the superstar shortstop launched a grand slam on Sunday. They are now 30-17 with the best record in baseball, but their NL West lead is just one game over the LA Dodgers who have won seven in a row.
Tatis hit two homers on Sunday and now has 202 career hits in just 173 games. He came back off the COVID injured list Wednesday and collected 11 hits with four homers, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases in four games.
Ace Yu Darvish is now 5-1 with a 1.75 ERA on the season after he struck out five over seven innings against the Mariners. San Diego now heads on the road for a series in Milwaukee and a series in Houston.
The Padres are still underdogs to win the NL West at +210 to the Dodgers -335. They are +400 to win the pennant with the Dodgers at +160, and San Diego is +750 to win it all with the Dodgers (+340) and NY Yankees (+700) ahead of them.