AROUND THE HORN

Mets: Aces Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer took their next steps Wednesday toward returning to the Mets’ rotation. DeGrom, sidelined since last July 7, threw 27 pitches to hitters in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and could progress to a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said after watching on video from Citi Field. “Tomorrow, if he feels well, we’ll probably be able to talk about that next step.” A two-time Cy Young Award winner, the 34-year-old right-hander missed the second half of last season because of right forearm tightness. He returned and made spring training starts on March 22 and 27, then was sidelined by a stress reaction in his right scapula that caused inflammation. He did not throw another bullpen session until June 4. “He hasn’t had anything that has taken him off schedule so far,” Showalter said. “You can tell he’s upbeat about where he is. The body language, more than anything.” The 37-yearold Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner, has been sidelined since straining his left oblique muscle while pitching against the Cardinals on May 18. He was to make his second rehab start for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Wednesday night, taking the mound against the Hartford Yard Goats. Scherzer threw 65 pitches early last week for Binghamton against Reading, allowing two runs and three hits in 3 innings with six strikeouts and a walk. After agreeing to a three-year, $130 million contract, baseball’s highest average salary, Scherzer is 6-2 with a 2.54 ERA in eight starts.

Phillies: Slugger Bryce Harper had successful surgery to repair his broken left thumb, interim manager Rob Thomson said, but there’s no timetable for his return. The Phillies remains hopeful the 2021 NL MVP can play again this season. “It went very well,” said Thomson, who deferred all other questions about the surgery to Harper. He’s expected to return to Philadelphia sometime this week to address the situation. Harper was injured Saturday night by a fastball from Padres LHP Blake Snell. The 29-year-old Harper is batting .318 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs.

Astros: OF Yordan Álvarez and SS Jeremy Peña were hurt when they collided in the eighth inning of the Astros’ 2-0 road win over the Mets while running down a popup. With Peña shifted to the right side and the game scoreless, Dominic Smith popped the ball into short left. Both called for the ball and as Peña caught the pop, each hit the other in the face with his glove. Both fell to the field and needed assistance. Álvarez was removed on a cart, sitting up, and Peña walked back to the dugout. Chas McCormick replaced Álvarez, and Mauricio Dubón took over for Peña, who initially wanted to remain in the game.

Pirates: Bryan Reynolds hit a career-high three HRs and drove in six runs, leading the Pirates over the host Nationals 8-7. The Pirates ended a five-game losing streak. Reynolds had a two-run HR in the first off Paolo Espino and a solo drive in the sixth off Carl Edwards Jr. (2-2). Edwards exited with two runners on base in the seventh, giving way to Kyle Finnegan. After Ke’Bryan Hayes struck out, Reynolds launched Finnegan’s elevated sinker into the visitors’ bullpen in left-center for a three-run HR that put the Pirates up 8-6. Reynolds struck out swinging in the ninth when he came up with a chance to tie the major league record of four home runs in a game. The six RBIs are a career high for Reynolds, who became the second Pirates player to homer three times in a game this season. Rookie Jack Suwinski did it June 19 against the Giants.