Jacob deGrom is about to rejoin the injury-ravaged Mets, but others are not quite as close.
The ace came out of his side session feeling good before Sunday’s game and now he is in line to start Tuesday against the Rockies. DeGrom left his May 9 start against the Diamondbacks with pain in his side after five innings and made one rehab start at Single-A last week.
DeGrom joined his teammates Friday in Miami and began his regular between-starts routine, but manager Luis Rojas was hesitant to green-light him for an MLB game until after observing Sunday’s tuneup.
“Jake threw a side today and felt pretty good, so he is on track to start for us,” Rojas said. “Everything looked good. We are still going to monitor today and [Monday], but he’s on track.”
Jacob deGrom will return to the Mets’ rotation on Tuesday. Bill KostrounHere are other updates provided before the Mets faced the Marlins:
- Second baseman Jose Peraza (right calf contusion) was not in the lineup for the second straight day. “He’s still a little tight in there,” Rojas said. “On the safe side, it’s better just to count on him off the bench.”
- Outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil are considered “week-to-week” and getting daily treatment on hamstring injuries. “Every time I go in the training room, they’re both in there,” Rojas said. “There is not a goal line or anything I’ve heard of yet.” Hamstring injuries typically receive a grade for severity, but Rojas is not certain of the diagnosis. “It’s usually a concern how high or how low [on the leg] it is,” Rojas said. “It’s in the middle-low area for both areas. Not an area that is extra concerning.”
- J.D. Davis (hand) was playing first base at Triple-A Syracuse so he could take the injured Pete Alonso’s place when he is ready to be called up. But more bad news “He’s got a stiff neck,” Rojas said of why Davis was out of Syracuse’s lineup Sunday. “They have a day off [Monday]. He’s still got to play a couple games there so he can feel his hand and he is more comfortable with finishing his swing. Nothing through the swing, nothing starting the swing. We expect him to be back in there [at Triple-A] Tuesday and we’ll see when he is going to join us throughout this week.”
- Noah Syndergaard, who is 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery, will make his next rehab start (second overall) for Single-A St. Lucie, probably Tuesday. It is penciled in for four innings. The plan thereafter is to pitch five innings twice and six innings twice somewhere in the minor league system, which puts Syndergaard on track for a mid-to-late June return.
- Kevin Pillar underwent successful surgery to repair multiple nasal fractures. “[He’ll do] strength exercises before the baseball activity,” Rojas said. “That’ll give us a better feel.”
- Dellin Betances (shoulder impingement) threw a pregame side session Sunday but there was no immediate word on his next steps. Betances, who has pitched one inning this season, rejoined teammates Saturday night. “He was very animated,” Rojas said. “He has done a lot of work from a treatment standpoint and a strength standpoint.”
- Taijuan Walker (side tightness) said he is focusing on cleaning up his mechanics — opening his lead leg more on the delivery — to avoid aggravating the discomfort. “We want it to be pain-free, and that’s why you can’t put a timeline on anything,” Walker said. “Especially being down a couple starters is never good, so I’m trying to get back as soon as possible.”
