NEW YORK – Mets starter Max Scherzer could be out for six to eight weeks with a hamstring strain on his left side, another blow to the New York rotation that already has no Ace Jacob Dichrome. .

Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, underwent an MRI on Thursday, a day after being asked to be pulled in the middle of a start against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched 1-1 against Albert Pujols in the sixth inning and said he would make a “draw” on his left side.

The Mets reported that the MRI showed a severity ranging from mild to severe. Oblique injury often causes rib pain.

Despite the injuries, the Mets led NL East by seven games, making the biggest difference of the season.

After the 7-6 win over St. Louis, manager Buck Schwolder said, “This is a great opportunity for the guys we wanted to bring here.” There have been some bad predictions when it comes to withdrawing some of these. “

The 37-year-old right-hander is 5-1 at 2.54 ERA in eight starts after signing a three-year, $ 130 million contract with New York. Eight times All-Star, Scherzer had 59 strikeouts and 11 walks in 49 2/3 innings.

The Mets woke up with a six-game lead in the NL East.

“He was thrown with a blister, with the ball – the seams were different,” Showalter said. “This is also one of the reasons he had difficulty breaking pitches and controlling them because he (the blister) did not want to break again.”

In 15 seasons in the Majors, the Scherzer 3.15 era with 195-98. He won the American League Cy Young in 2013 with 2013, and two more from the National with Washington in 2016 and 2017.

Digrom did not play after spring training due to stress on his right shoulder blade, and he could return in late June or July. Tyler McGill, another member of the cycle, was added to the disabled list on Sunday with right biceps swelling.

David Peterson will be called up from Triple-A to join the cycle that includes Chris Posit (4-2, 2.34), Carlos Carrasco (3-1, 3.73) and Taijuan Walker (1-0, 3.52).