Hill could take hill on Sunday
The wait for Jacob deGrom continues with no set timetable. The Mets ace continues to get treatment for right forearm tightness, according to manager Luis Rojas. He also is doing some light throwing but a bullpen session has not been scheduled. DeGrom (7-2, 1.08 ERA) last pitched on July 7, before the All-Star break. He reported forearm discomfort on July 16 and was soon after placed on the 10-day injured list.
The lengthy time between appearances likely means deGrom will make at least one rehab start before he returns to the Mets.
ON THE HILL
New Met lefty Rich Hill, acquired Friday in a trade with the Rays, could start on Sunday in the series finale against the Blue Jays. He was expected to join the team Saturday. Marcus Stroman will start one of the games of a doubleheader on Monday against Atlanta at Citi Field. Monday’s other starter has not been named.
Hill, 41, fills the Mets’ immediate need for starting pitching with deGrom out and Carlos Carrasco yet to make his Mets debut after tearing a hamstring during spring training. Lefthander David
Peterson also remains on the IL with a strained oblique and a newly discovered fracture in his right foot. Peterson has been moved to the 60-day IL, according to Rojas. The Mets are also still waiting on Noah Syndergaard, who had a setback in his rehab from Tommy John surgery and likely won’t be able to return to the big leagues until at least September.
Hill, a soft-tossing lefty who features his curveball, is 6-4 this season with a 3.87 ERA.
“We don’t have a guy like that here,” Rojas said on Friday. “We don’t have that veteran guy with experience like this that can bring different stories from different teams and has been in the playoffs multiple times. Age is just a number I think. I think it’s going to make the team better, make us better, and make me a better manager.”
NO CARRASCO YET
The Mets considered bringing up the veteran righty as early as this weekend to bolster their beat-up rotation, even without him fully stretched out, but decided against it after he surrendered three home runs in his last rehab start. They say Carrasco is healthy and the issue was with his command.
Rojas said the plan is for Carrasco to pitch three innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday and evaluate after that. It’s possible Carrasco could join the Mets on their current 11-game home stand if all goes well.
ROSTER MOVES
Right-hander Stephen Nogosek has been placed on the 10-day IL with a sore shoulder. He threw three innings in his only appearance this season on Tuesday when starter Robert Stock left after one inning with a hamstring injury … Pitcher Nick Tropeano has been optioned to make room on the roster for Hill … OF Brandon Drury was activate for Saturday night’s game against the Blue Jays.