MRI reveals no structural damage for Mets' Jacob deGrom

New York MetspitcherJacob deGromhas been cleared for his next start after an MRI revealed no structural damage in his right elbow, the team announced Thursday.

DeGrom suffered a hyperextended elbow -- a rare injury for a pitcher -- while striking out swinging in the third inning of Wednesday's 7-0 loss to theAtlanta Braves.

He had an MRI on Wednesday night and was examined at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Thursday.

"A couple times when I've swung and missed this year, I'll feel a little something in the back of my elbow, but it never has bothered me throwing," said deGrom, who added he was pain-free on Thursday. "And then when I went back out there, it was kind of more in my bicep, like I felt a little something. So I think erred on the side of precaution. It wasn't getting worse, but it didn't feel good, so I decided to say something."

Mets manager Mickey Callaway said deGrom will prepare for his next start, which is scheduled for Monday against the Reds, but he will be monitored for soreness and other possible symptoms.

The 29-year-old pitcher intends to play catch Friday and throw a bullpen session Saturday.

"We're going to really home in on him and make sure everything is 100 percent if he's going to make that start on Monday," Callaway said.

After suffering the injury, deGrom wanted to continue, pitching smoothly through the heart of Atlanta's order in the fourth to extend his scoreless-innings streak to 18 1/3. He then left the game, however, after he told the staff that his biceps was sore.

DeGrom had Tommy John surgery in October 2010 that caused him to miss the following season, and he had an operation in September 2016 to reposition the ulnar nerve in his right elbow.

"I've been injured before. Kind of the spot it was in, I wasn't as worried," deGrom said. "So I was like, this has got to be more of a muscle thing than a structural thing."

Given his .143 batting average, deGrom said he probably should not have tried to swing after watching the first pitch sail by for a called strike.

"Looking back, I probably should have just taken two and struck out," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.