NEW YORK — Mets ace Jacob deGrom pulled himself from a start Sunday after throwing two warm-up pitches before the sixth inning.
The Mets later said that deGrom was experiencing tightness in his right side and was removed from the game for “precautionary reasons.”
DeGrom was pitching for the first time since skipping a start due to discomfort in his right lat.
The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner threw 68 pitches over five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing one run, but he called for a trainer when he felt discomfort trying to get loose prior to the sixth. He left with the trainer and went straight to the clubhouse, and it was not immediately announced what caused him to leave.
DeGrom struck out six and allowed one hit. He was perfect through four innings before struggling in the fifth, when he allowed a run.
The right-hander walked three in the inning, just the second time in his career he’s done that. His previous three-walk inning was May 13, 2018, at Philadelphia. He was pulled after one inning in that game, his first back from the injured list.
New York led 2-1 when he exited Sunday, with deGrom scoring the second run after reaching on a perfectly placed bunt single in the third inning.
He was replaced by right-hander Miguel Castro.
DeGrom began the day with a 2-2 record despite an 0.51 ERA.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.