Jake could miss his Subway stop
Jacob deGrom, on six days of rest, will make his sixth start of the season Wednesday night at Citi Field. If he remains on the normal four days of rest, that would likely take him out of a start in any of the five games against the Yankees this weekend in the Bronx. The Mets and Yankees are scheduled to play five games from Friday-Sunday, including two doubleheaders to make up for the coronavirus-postponed games from last weekend.
Though, when asked directly if deGrom will not pitch in the upcoming Subway Series, Rojas wouldn’t confirm or deny it.
The Mets went with Rick Porcello and Seth Lugo as their Game 1 and 2 starters for Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Marlins. The team has not announced a rotation beyond deGrom’s start Wednesday.
Rojas indicated the order of the initial starters for the first three games against the Marlins derived from a decision to keep his pitchers on schedule and to give deGrom time to complete his usual routine in-between starts. Both Porcello and Lugo last pitched on Aug. 16 in Philadelphia. Lugo will be making his first start of the season on Tuesday. DeGrom threw off the mound on Monday.
“But Jake wants to throw all the time,” Rojas said. “He told me today, he could’ve gone today. But it’s good that he gets that in-between-start routine that he does, his bullpen session, and then he’s able to go two days after.”
Going by how cautious the Mets have been with their ace, it seems unlikely deGrom will pitch on short rest against the Yankees this weekend. If he stays on schedule after Wednesday, the back-toback Cy Young winner’s next start should come next week in Baltimore.
ON THE MEND
David Peterson (left shoulder inflammation) and Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) are both progressing on their respective IL stints. The delay in the Mets’ rotation announcement for the rest of the week is likely contingent on their improvements and ability to slot into the starting five again.
Both pitchers threw bullpen sessions on Monday and the team received positive feedback on their recovery. Rojas indicated it’s possible Peterson and Wacha will progress in time to start against the Yankees this weekend.
“We’ll see how they feel today and then we’ll know what the next step, in their case, is,” said Rojas.
Jake Marisnick (left hamstring strain) is “moving in the right direction,” per Rojas. The outfielder has been on the IL since July 29. He most recently played up to seven innings and took a few at-bats in a simulated game at the team’s alternate site in Brooklyn. The Mets do not have a timeline for his return.