NO ‘D’ FOR DEGROM
Poor defense contributes to a loss for Jacob in a lackluster effort against the Marlins
AFTER Jacob deGrom finished last year on the disabled list, his ailing right elbow in need of surgery, he came into 2017 with a distinct goal: throw 200 innings. In recent years, that benchmark has become somewhat tough to reach. Last season, only 15 pitchers in all of baseball threw 200 innings. So to get there is a sign of both durability and efficiency for a starter in today’s game, and deGrom has a legitimate chance to accomplish the feat.
After allowing five earned runs over 6.1 innings in Sunday’s loss to the Marlins, deGrom is on pace to get to 200 innings for the first time. If he remains healthy and in the rotation, deGrom should comfortably make seven more starts this season. He needs to average five innings per start to get to 200. DeGrom is averaging 6.6 innings per start this season.
“That’s a big thing,” deGrom said of reaching 200 innings. “That was kind of a goal coming into the year, was try to get there.”
But the aforementioned “if” is a big one. DeGrom has floundered over his past two starts, allowing 10 earned runs in 13.2 innings.
Terry Collins believes this two-start stretch could mean deGrom is hitting a wall.
“Those are some things that certainly could point to some stuff like that. Whether it is a fact, we don’t know,” Collins said. “He’s trying to certainly get 200 innings. I know that’s a big part of what he wants to do this year. …(But) we’re going to be careful with him down the stretch.”
LAZY CES
Yoenis Cespedes was not exactly a prime example of defensive effort Sunday.
First, in the third inning, the outfielder let a looping line drive fall in front of him in left. It was the second straight day he failed to dive for a ball in front of him on a play he could have made. Then in the seventh inning, Cespedes dropped a routine fly ball down the left-field line.
With the Mets no longer in the playoff hunt, it certainly looks like Cespedes is pulling back in the field. He did, however, homer and double in Sunday’s loss.
MORE RELIEF
In a surprising turn, the Mets announced the player to be named in the Curtis Granderson deal just two days after the trade went final: Righthander Jacob Rhame.
Rhame is a 24-year-old reliever who pitched to a 4.31 ERA in 41 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He’s a former sixth-round pick and will be assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
ALL IN THE FAMILIA
Jeurys Familia (blood clot in right arm) pitched in his second rehab game Saturday night, allowing one hit and striking out three in a scoreless inning for Single-A Port St. Lucie.
The next steps for Familia, according to Collins, will be pitching on back-to-back days and throwing 30 pitches in an inning . . . . Matt Harvey will make his third rehab start Monday night for Double-A Binghamton.