Mets ready to get the most out of deGrom
The Mets plan to wrap up their sevengame home stand on a high note tonight against the Orioles. Then, they’ll enjoy their first off day in more than two weeks on Thursday. But after that, it’s go-time. And they’re putting their best pitcher on the hill to kick off a three-game set against the Blue Jays in Buffalo.
Jacob deGrom will start Friday, instead of Saturday, and Seth Lugo will start Game 2 against the Blue Jays. The flip-flop keeps deGrom on regular rest and maximizes his outings from three to four as the Mets make a final push for postseason contention.
“Jake is one of the best pitchers, if not the best pitcher, in the world,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “The thing is to keep his routine. He likes to throw every five days. He wants to do his routine in-between for the five days. That’s one of the reasons that we’re doing it too.”
Tuesday was at least the second time Rojas mentioned deGrom’s “in-between-starts routine” as a reason for pitching him on a certain d ay. The other time came after the Mets’ f o u rgame layoff due to a player and coach testing positive for COVID-19. DeGrom wanted to start the Aug. 25 doubleheader against the Marlins on the Tuesday that the Mets returned to action, which would have lined the ace up to pitch against the Yankees that upcoming weekend. Instead, the Mets waited until Wednesday to start him, and Rojas cited deGrom’s routine in between starts as the reason why. He pitched on nine days rest and completely missed the Subway Series matchup (five games in three days) at Yankee Stadium.
If the Mets keep deGrom on regular rest following his Friday start, he will be in line to face the Phillies, skip the Braves series and get a start against the Rays at Citi Field before his final start of the regular season against the Nationals in Washington.
WHO’S AT SHORT?
Rojas insisted he’s not platooning Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario at shortstop, even though the newcomer has started five of the team’s last eight games at short. Lately, Rojas’ buzzword for starting Gimenez over Rosario is “matching up.” But, no matter how one slices it, it’s clear the Mets think Gimenez gives them a better chance to win.
Rosario got the start at short Tuesday against the Orioles against left-hander John Means. He’s slashing .286/.318/.405 with a .723 OPS, eight RBI, one home run and two walks in 44 plate appearances against lefties this season. Rosario has a .194/.206/.313 slashline and .519 OPS against righties. Gimenez started Tuesday at second, while Robinson Cano, Dominic Smith and Brandon Nimmo got the night off against a lefty.