Jacob deGrom’s stint on the disabled list could be, as the Mets rookie right-hander predicted, a short one.
DeGrom, shelved since Aug. 11 after being diagnosed with right rotator cuff tendinitis, threw a bullpen session Sunday before the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Cubs.
DeGrom threw 20 pitches — all fastballs — and reported no problems after throwing for the second straight day. The plan is for him to throw again Tuesday or Wednesday, using all of his pitches, and he could take his turn in the rotation Saturday — the first day he is eligible to come off the disabled list — in Los Angeles against NL West-leading Dodgers.
The NL Rookie of the Year candidate said he didn’t throw with 100 percent effort, but he rarely does so between starts.
“It’s more staying smooth, working on my delivery and making sure everything feels fine,” deGrom said. “It was probably good for me to get some time off, so I feel really good.”
Manager Terry Collins said the Mets will have to see how deGrom feels on Monday before deciding the next step. If he does pitch in Los Angeles, deGrom would be on a pitch limit.
“In a perfect world, yeah, he should be able to bounce back in his spot,” Collins said. “That being said, you’re gonna have to cut his workload back quite a bit, so you better have somebody behind him. He’s not gonna throw 110 pitches his first time out.”
DeGrom, 6-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 16 starts this season, is expected to be capped at 180 innings, and the DL stint likely will allow him to avoid a September shutdown. DeGrom has thrown 138 ²/₃ innings this season between Triple-A and the major leagues.
Collins said right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will make a third rehab appearance at Single-A Brooklyn, though a date hasn’t been finalized.
Matsuzaka, out since July 26 with right elbow inflammation, tossed six innings of one-run ball for Double-A Binghamton Saturday night. If deGrom returns pain-free, Matsuzaka likely would go back to the bullpen, where the veteran has spent most of this season.
“When he’s ready to go, we’ll have to see where he fits,” Collins said.
Curtis Granderson snapped an 0-for-17 skid with his eighth-inning RBI single.
The Mets have lost a major league-leading 22 times in their opponents’ final at-bats this season and are 19-25 in one-run games (9-11 at Citi Field).
Shortstop Ruben Tejada got his first start since Aug. 6 and had two of the Mets’ four hits, filling in for Wilmer Flores. It was his first multi-hit game since July 30 in Philadelphia.
Top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard battled through another shaky outing for Las Vegas.
Syndergaard lasted only five innings and gave up two earned runs on three hits, but struck out eight and walked three in a 4-0 loss to Omaha. His record dropped to 8-7 with a 4.72 ERA.