Noah nearly ready, will start for Cyclones
TORONTO — Noah Syndergaard will be making an appearance in Coney Island on Sunday.
The Mets' injured right-hander will pitch a minor-league rehab game for the Cyclones against the Staten Island Yankees Sunday at MCU Park.
“He could be back before the All-Star break,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said before Wednesday night's game against the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.
On a regular five day schedule, Syndergaard would line up to return on Friday, July 13 against the Nationals at Citi Field.
That will depend on how Sunday goes. The Mets would like to see Syndergaard throw about 60 pitches for the Cyclones.
Thor has not pitched for the Mets since May 25 due to a strained ligament in his right index finger.
He threw a simulated game on Tuesday without incident and the Mets are hopeful that he will need just one minor-league rehab start before returning.
MESORACO CLEARED
Devin Mesoraco, who left Tuesday night's game after taking a foul ball and a bat to his helmet, passed a concussion protocol test and said he felt fine on Wednesday.
Mesoraco did not play Wednesday night, but was seen by a doctor at the Rogers Centre and given the final clearance on concussion protocol..
AS THE ROTATION TURNS
The Mets' rotation has been thrown into disarray by the return of Seth Lugo to the bullpen, an injury to Jason Vargas and a doubleheader on Monday, meaning four games in three days.
The Mets have pushed back Zack Wheeler to pitch one game of the doubleheader with Corey Oswalt expected to pitch the other. They will likely call up a minor leaguer to start on Sunday against the Rays.
“We're going to need two to three starters in that little three-day period because we have four games and we'd like Wheeler to start one of those doubleheader games to keep us out of having too much of a bind starting some of the other guys,” Callaway said.
Vargas, who pitched in the same simulated game as Syndergaard on Tuesday, will remain in Port St. Lucie and pitch another simulated game on Sunday.
REYES GETS THE START
With the Mets looking to rest rookie Amed Rosario, Jose Reyes started at shortstop Wednesday. Reyes, returning to Toronto for the first time since he was traded by the Jays for Troy Tulowitzki, went 0-for-4 . . . . Yoenis Cespedes is scheduled to begin baseball activities today. “He really got after it the last couple of days, so they want him to have treatment only (Wednesday),” Callaway said.