Sandy says rest is best for deGrom

JACOB DEGROM is getting a break. The Mets are skipping his next turn through the rotation and the club hopes this not only gives the righty some needed rest, but helps him fix a lingering mechanical snag, too.

“The last couple of starts, his ball hasn’t moved the way it typically does,” Mets GM Sandy Alderson said. “We don’t think that’s related to injury. We think it’s maybe related to mechanics, which is not to say he hasn’t pitched quite a bit and couldn’t use the (time) off.”

DeGrom was adamant he did not need rest after he was clobbered in his last two starts, including by the Cardinals on Thursday, but he seemed resigned to it.

“Of course, I want to be out there,” deGrom said. “But these past few, I haven’t helped the team very much.”

DeGrom has allowed 13 runs and 25 hits over just 9.2 innings in his last two starts, a frustrating run that’s dropped his record to 7-7 and lifted his ERA to 2.96.

The Mets have not yet determined who will pitch in deGrom’s spot Monday against the Marlins. Terry Collins listed Seth Lugo, who would be on short rest, Sean Gilmartin, Gabriel Ynoa, Logan Verrett and Rafael Montero as potential options. The club is still hoping Steven Matz can come off the disabled list when he’s eligible Tuesday and start, perhaps on Wednesday. Lugo, if he does not pitch in deGrom’s place, would go on regular rest Tuesday.

DeGrom, meanwhile, will try to fix the windup flaw the Mets discovered using the TrackMan computer analysis of deGrom’s pitching.

The Mets have discovered that deGrom is “falling over toward the first-base side again,” the pitcher said. “Arm slot is two inches higher and two inches more toward first. So that tells me that I’m falling off that way.

“That makes my stuff flat in the zone. I battled it early this year and felt like I got it right. I don’t know if I was trying to do too much out there and started leaning back a little bit or what.” Is it an easy fix? “I think so,” deGrom said. “I say that, but I’ve been battling it all year. I hope it’s an easy fix. We’ll try to get it right in these next few days.”

The Mets believe that deGrom is also battling fatigue and they hope this break will produce the same results that similar mini-vacations have had on deGrom in his first two seasons.

Last year, he pitched in the July 14 All-Star game but then did not start for another week. He went 3-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his next six starts. Then he had 12 days between starts in September and only allowed one run in his final 10 innings of the regular season and was 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA in the postseason.

In 2014, deGrom went on the disabled list in August with rotator cuff tendinitis and finished the year going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in six starts.

“When he’s had time off, he’s bounced back and he’s been dominant,” Collins said.

Added deGrom: “I want to be out there, but I think this is going to help me in the long run.”