DeGrom could take mound in Citi opener
The COVID-related postponement of Opening Day in Washington on Thursday could benefit those holding tickets to the Mets’ home opener one week later.
If the Mets and Nationals are able to play Saturday — with Jacob deGrom facing fellow multiple-Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer — deGrom also would be lined up to pitch the first game at Citi Field in front of fans since 2019 next Thursday against Miami.
Mets manager Luis Rojas didn’t disclose the remainder of his pushed-back starting rotation when he addressed the media Thursday, beyond deGrom, Marcus Stroman and David Peterson taking the mound whenever the first three games of the season are played.
If deGrom and Stroman pitch Saturday and
Sunday in Washington, with Peterson starting the series opener Monday in Philadelphia, deGrom would be lined up to throw again in Flushing on Thursday versus the Marlins, Rojas said. The Mets previously had planned to bring him back on four days’ rest Tuesday against the Phillies.
“Now things have changed a little bit,” Rojas said. “Because now we’re going to play a series of games in a row … six days in a row, and then it’s a day off [next Friday]. So we’ll reveal those Saturday, but once again, Jake and Stroman and Peterson the first three days.”
Rojas added that his $137.5 million ace was “the first person I called” when he found out about the postponement — due to three positive tests by players on the Nationals — around 11 a.m. Thursday. He said deGrom was typically calm when learning that his first start of the year would be pushed back at least two days.
Rojas didn’t discuss next week’s home opener with the two-time Cy Young winner, but he mapped out that plan with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
“We talked about [how] it would line him [up] with that [game],” Rojas said. “So as of now, [if ] we [play] Saturday, that is probably going to happen, that [deGrom] is going to pitch at home.”
➤ Relief pitchers Aaron Loup, Dellin Betances, Jeurys Familia and Trevor May got in some work Thursday during bullpen sessions at Nationals Park, while Edwin Diaz was among those scheduled to face batters, according to Rojas.