AROUND THE HORN
Mets: Mets newcomer Rich Hill is expected to make his debut for the NL East leaders on Sunday when New York plays Toronto at Citi Field. Mets manager Luis Rojas said Hill would arrive at the ballpark before Saturday night’s game against the Blue Jays and throw on the side. The Mets acquired the 41-yearold left-hander in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for veteran pitcher Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matthew Dyer. Hill went 6-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 19 starts for the Rays this season. He faced Toronto on July 11 and gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. Hill will be a muchneeded addition to a starting rotation that has been depleted by injuries, most notably ace Jacob deGrom being on the 10-day injured list with tightness in his right forearm. Left-handed David Peterson had been expected to return sometime in August after being sidelined with an oblique strain, but the Mets announced Saturday they were moving him to he 60-day IL after he fractured his right foot walking back to the clubhouse following Friday night’s win. Rojas also said righty Carlos Carrasco will make a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. The 34-year-old veteran, who was acquired in the offseason trade with the Cleveland Indians that also brought Francisco Lindor to New York, is expected to pitch three innings. Carrasco hasn’t pitched in the majors this year while recovering from a hamstring injury. He’s started twice in the minors, allowing five runs in 3 ⅔ innings.
Nationals: Nationals ace Max Scherzer was scratched from his start at Baltimore on Saturday night with what the team described as mild right triceps discomfort. Manager Dave Martinez said before the game that Scherzer had an MRI and it was “extremely clean” — he’s expected to make his next start. Jon Lester was starting Saturday in his place. Scherzer is 7-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 18 starts this season. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, who turns 37 on Tuesday, has been the subject of trade speculation as the Nationals continue to struggle. His absence now is another issue for the Washington rotation, which has been without Stephen Strasburg since early June because of lingering neck problems. On Friday, Martinez said Strasburg was still having neck discomfort, and the team was trying to figure out what the best course of action was for him going forward. The Nationals also put infielder Jordy Mercer on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, with a left calf strain. Washington recalled infielder Carter Kieboom from Triple-A Rochester.
Braves: The Braves activated Ender Inciarte from the COVID-19 injured list on Saturday and designated him for assignment prior to the club’s game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The 30-year-old outfielder had a .215/.276/.316 slash line over 52 games this season after posting a .190/.262/.250 line in 46 games during the abbreviated 2020 campaign.
Astros: Third baseman Alex Bregman said Saturday he will return to action in the next couple of days on a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land. Bregman has been out of action since straining his left quadriceps muscle while running the bases on June 16. “I’m going to go start playing baseball, which is good, and I’ll be back soon,”
Bregman said.