No sign of pain in Jake’s debut

PORT ST. LUCIE – If Mets fans had any concerns about ace Jacob deGrom’s early spring training back pain and whether that would hinder the right-hander’s preparation for the 2018 season, deGrom came out blazing Sunday in his Grapefruit League debut.

Facing the World Series champion Astros at First Data Field, deGrom retired the side to lead off the game, whiffing Jake Marisnick and Tony Kemp looking, and getting Astros starting third baseman Alex Bregman to swing at 96 mph heat for strike three.

Although deGrom ran into trouble in the second inning – something he and Mets first-year manager Mickey Callaway attributed to deGrom rushing his approach to home plate – there was no sign that the pitcher suffered any back pain, which was the reason the team had to push back deGrom’s schedule last month.

“I feel healthy. That was the main thing,” deGrom said Sunday after he pitched 2.2 innings, using a fastball that topped out at 98 mph. “Good first inning. Definitely had a lot of adrenaline.”

DeGrom threw 47 pitches total in the eventual 5-2 Astros victory, and he said he used every pitch from his arsenal. He whiffed four Astros, walked one, and surrendered two runs on two hits. Both of the Astros’ runs off deGrom came in the second, when Marwin Gonzalez ripped a single past a diving Amed Rosario, Evan Gattis worked a walk and A.J. Reed singled to shallow right. Tyler White and Kyle Tucker followed with consecutive sacrifice flies.

“Second inning, started getting a little quick to home plate, especially out of the stretch,” said deGrom, 29. “I was having a little bit harder time locating. Main thing is that I felt good.”

Given the Mets’ injury woes to the starting rotation the last two seasons, Callaway and his staff aren’t going to fool around with a pitcher of deGrom’s caliber, especially at this stage of the year.

“(DeGrom) looked fine. He came out of it healthy,” said Callaway. “We know who Jacob deGrom is. He got a little tired in the third, which is good. You want to get them tired each outing to get them ready for the season. But he threw the ball well.”

It is expected that deGrom will not be ready to pitch the season opener March 29 against the Cardinals at Citi Field, and although he and Callaway didn’t confirm that information Sunday, deGrom said he hasn’t even been thinking about that scenario.

“The goal was to get in a game here first and then go from there. That’ll be a discussion between Mickey, (pitching coach) Dave (Eiland) and probably myself,” said deGrom, who was 15-10 last season. “We don’t want to do anything dumb and push it.” AP

“We’re just really taking it day by day, and going from there,” added Callaway.

DeGrom said he last experienced back discomfort and stiffness when he left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their second child, daughter Aniston, last month.

“It hasn’t bothered me since I got back from Aniston being born,” said deGrom. “All that was precautionary. Everything’s fine.”

Now that he has pitched in his first game this spring training, deGrom said he would resume his normal pitching schedule, and that he’ll be on normal five days’ rest with today’s off day.

“We’re going to keep things going,” he said. “Now I’m not that far behind. That was the main plan. Feel like I’m pretty close. The goal is to make every start from here on out.”