NEW YORK (AP) — Mets ace Jacob deGrom pitched four innings Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse, finishing strong after a shaky start in what could be his last minor league rehab outing before rejoining New York’s rotation.
Sidelined all season by a stress reaction in his right scapula, deGrom gave up four runs on a pair of homers and threw 41 of 67 pitches for strikes. He struck out six and walked three in a game that began at 12:05 p.m.
The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner could return to the Mets early next week in Washington. If he pitches Monday or Tuesday, he would be lined up on full rest to make a start in a potentially pivotal five-game series Aug. 4-7 at home against defending World Series champion Atlanta.
New York entered Wednesday with a two-game lead in the NL East over the Braves.
However, the Mets have not committed to that timeline — and manager Buck Showalter said if deGrom needs another rehab start after this one, then that’s what the team will do. He said deGrom is well aware of what it takes to be ready to pitch in the majors.
The 34-year-old right-hander hasn’t appeared in a big league game since July 7, 2021. He missed the second half of last season with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, then went down late in spring training this year with the scapula injury.
He’s made four minor league rehab starts totaling 12 2/3 innings, two at Class A St. Lucie and two with Syracuse. He’s allowed five runs — four earned — and seven hits with 21 strikeouts and four walks, hitting 100 mph on the radar gun even in his first outing.
He threw a 60-pitch simulated game in Florida during the All-Star break, then a side session Sunday at Citi Field in New York. The simulated game was pushed back two days after deGrom experienced minor shoulder soreness.
.
..
Leave a Reply