Two wrapped cigars sit in Jacob deGrom’s locker at Citi Subject, seemingly a celebratory gesture from a number of Mets teammates who welcomed infants into the world in current weeks.
DeGrom can be again at that locker inside the subsequent day or so, however to not put together for a begin in opposition to the Yankees within the Subway Collection, because the best-case state of affairs urged following his 60-pitch simulated recreation in Port St. Lucie on Thursday.
As an alternative, deGrom will work out in New York on Sunday after which be slotted into one other minor league rehab begin. Dare we recommend will probably be his final?
Mets normal supervisor Billy Eppler mentioned the 1-2 combo of not having deGrom stretched out sufficient and the absence of minor league video games through the All-Star break led to the choice to proceed the right-hander’s rehab. A simulated recreation is sweet, however it doesn’t match the depth of the true factor, with followers within the ballpark.
Mets supervisor Buck Showalter hinted that is additionally an try to get deGrom — whose newest outing was delayed two days due to muscle soreness in his proper shoulder — to the end line this season after greater than a yr on the sidelines rehabbing from varied illnesses.
“It’s a distinct time of the yr now,” Showalter mentioned earlier than the Mets misplaced 4-1 to the Padres to open the second half. “It’s the canine days right here so far as the warmth and possibly the following two months are actually a problem bodily, mentally and emotionally. It’s what all of us stand up within the morning for, to be put in that scenario and see the way you reply.”
The potential of deGrom pitching within the postseason is extra essential to the Mets than having him face the Yankees on a July evening in Queens. Underneath outdated administration or in numerous circumstances, deGrom in all probability would have been activated to pitch in opposition to the Yankees. However the Mets have an proprietor much less obsessive about the Yankees than his predecessor was and a group on tempo to achieve 100 victories. It will be silly to hurry deGrom if he isn’t fairly prepared.
However the Mets can’t wait endlessly. Underneath MLB guidelines, a pitcher has 30 days to finish his minor league rehab task. DeGrom’s first rehab begin on this return from a stress response on his proper scapula occurred on July 3. That offers him till per week from Tuesday to complete his rehab. So, theoretically, the Mets may nonetheless give deGrom a further minor league rehab begin after this subsequent one in the event that they select.
It’s uncommon that the 30-day rule turns into an element, however that is additionally a pitcher that final appeared in an everyday season recreation for the Mets on July 7, 2021. He has began from scratch in his buildup, placing him in the kind of spot at which he can be close to the conclusion of a standard spring coaching.
“We now have operated fairly some time with out him, we're wanting ahead to working with him, however when it occurs it occurs,” Showalter mentioned.
Mets beginning pitchers personal a 2.41 ERA in 18 video games this month. They need deGrom again as quickly as potential, however have confirmed adept at surviving with out him. The rotation additionally has weathered the lack of Max Scherzer for nearly seven weeks. Scherzer offered one other strong outing Friday, permitting two earned runs over six innings.
What sort of power would deGrom’s return deliver?
“Sort of the identical as Max’s did,” Taijuan Walker mentioned. “He was on the IL for seven weeks, got here again and simply Max’s power and spark. Jake shouldn't be as vocal as Max, however simply the awe you get. We all know, ‘Oh, Jake goes on the market.’
“We all know there's a 99 % likelihood we're going to win the sport, as a result of we all know he's the very best pitcher within the recreation and he’s going to go on the market and provide you with six-plus innings with one run or much less ball and possibly 10 strikeouts each time.”
Extra cigars for deGrom’s locker could quickly be applicable, however solely when it’s time to rejoice his return. That gained’t be in opposition to the Yankees this week.
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