DeGrom scratched due to family issues
MIAMI -- Jacob deGrom was scratched at the last minute from his start Friday night because he had to “take care of some family issues,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway announced before the seriesopener at Marlins Park.
While the team would not elaborate on the matter, they said deGrom will start Saturday's game.
It made for some quick reshuffling for Mets manager Mickey Callaway.
“We had to make a late call, just a few minutes ago. Jacob deGrom will pitch (Saturday), He has to take care of some family issues today,” Callaway said. “We optioned Gerson Bautista and activated Corey Oswalt, so he'll start for us tonight.”
While this is just another hurdle the Mets have had to deal with this season, they were seemingly prepared for it. Oswalt had already been summoned to Miami to start Saturday's game, part of the decision to move Seth Lugo back into the bullpen from the rotation.
The bullpen suffered its major-league worst 21st loss of the season on Wednesday night.
“I think that obviously you guys have seen we have been struggling with our pen,” Callaway said. “We think he's a good presence down there and a good option. We feel at this point where we are at as a team, we are a better team with Lugo in the bullpen.”
The righty is 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA in five starts this season. He pitched to a 2.27 ERA in 21 appearances as a reliever.
Lugo said that if it helped the team win, he was OK with the decision, but he has not been shy about his desire to start in the past.
The bullpen, however, was in dire need of him.
With a 4.83 ERA, they have the fifth highest in the majors and are tied for having allowed a big league-leading 47 home runs.
The Mets are hopeful the next time that they need a fifth starter, lefty Jason Vargas, who is on the disabled list with a strained right calf, will be ready to come back.
NOAH STEPS FORWARD
Noah Syndergaard, who has not pitched since May 25 because of a strained ligament in his right index finger, pitched to live batters Friday and could be nearing a minorleague rehab assignment .
“He threw 31 pitches, two innings, an up-and-down kind of thing,” Callaway said. “He looked really good, stuff was coming out fine, had good movement on his pitches, he's in a really good spot. See how he comes in tomorrow, see if there is any pain and kind of go from there.”
Callaway said that if Syndergaard feels good on Saturday, he will likely head to Port St. Lucie when the team heads to Toronto on Sunday. Syndergaard would be joined on that trip by David Wright, who was with the team Friday. The captain has been hitting baseballs and doing drills as he tries to get back in a game for the first time in more than two years.