New York Post

Carrasco ready for Met debut

- By MIKE PUMA

Carlos Carrasco isn’t a figment of the Mets’ imaginatio­n.

A pitcher who has operated largely in the shadows this season as he has rehabbed from a torn right hamstring, will finally walk to the mound at Citi Field on Friday and inject a needed dose of hope into a hurting rotation.

“We’re kind of banged up right now and to get a starting pitcher back, it’s going to be awesome,” Pete Alonso said after the Mets’ 6-3 loss to the Braves on Thursday.

Alonso noted that Carrasco’s season debut will come as the Mets reintroduc­e the alternate black jerseys they wore from 19982012.

“It was really cool because when we were doing the photo stuff for all the promo stuff, he was like a kid in a candy store,” Alonso said. “He’s super excited to put on the threads and I’m excited for him and I know he is going to go out there and give a gem.”

The 34-year-old Carrasco appeared in three minor league rehab games, topping out at three innings on Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets will continue stretching him out at the major league level, in a rotation that has been weakened as Jacob deGrom sits on the injured list with a right forearm strain. Other unavailabl­e options because of various injuries include Noah Syndergaar­d, David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, Robert Stock and Corey Oswalt.

The Mets acquired Carrasco last winter in the Francisco Lindor deal and entered spring training with the idea he would be the No. 2 starter in the rotation, surrounded by deGrom and Marcus Stroman. But before Carrasco could even pitch in the exhibition season, he tore his right hamstring while running.

The Mets’ rotation shortage hit a crescendo this week, when the team used a bullpen game for the nightcap of a doublehead­er against the Braves on Monday and followed that by starting Jerad Eickhoff — who had already been designated for assignment twice this season.

“Just having five starters in the rotation, I think it’s been a while since we’ve had five guys in the rotation and [Carrasco] is a big piece,” Taijuan Walker said. “Just having his presence in there, and him going out there and being back, it’s almost like getting a piece at the [trade] deadline for us.”

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CARLOS CARRASCO

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