The Mets are shutting down starting pitcher Johan Santana, effective immediately. Santana has been awful since throwing the first no-hitter in Mets history on June 1st against the Cardinals.
Perhaps oddly, the issue isn't with Santana's surgically repaired shoulder, but instead his back. The former two-time AL Cy Young winner didn't pitch in the majors at all last season recovering from the surgery, but is bothered by lower back inflammation at the moment, which is what is knocking him out for the rest of the season. Surgery is apparently not going to be necessary for the inflammation.
After pitching extraordinarily well leading up to his no-hitter, Santana's year has fallen apart, especially lately. In July and August, Santana has an unsightly 15.63 ERA in five starts and 19 innings, while allowing eight homers over that time. He probably should have been shut down sooner, but the Mets are making the right decision in ending his season now instead of making him labor even further.
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