Wilson Ramos’ training wheels have been removed.
The veteran catcher was behind the plate Thursday for a second straight Jacob deGrom start. It signifies that Mets officials and deGrom are finally on board with using Ramos to catch the ace right-hander. During a three-start stretch last month, Tomas Nido was behind the plate for deGrom.
“We’re at that point where Wilson is our starter, there is no secrets about it,” manager Mickey Callaway said before the Mets’ game with the Cardinals was suspended in a 4-4 tie with the Mets batting in the ninth inning. The game will resume at 6:10 p.m. Friday at Citi Field, before the Mets and Cardinals play their regularly scheduled contest. “He’s been very productive at the plate, he’s caught everybody very well so he’s going to catch when he is supposed to catch no matter who is pitching that day. I think we’re at that point.”
With Ramos catching his previous start, deGrom allowed two earned runs over six innings with 10 strikeouts and one walk, and on Thursday night the Mets’ ace gave up two earned runs over seven innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.
“They did get on a roll,” Callaway said. “I thought they were on the same page the other day. I think it was never as much about what was going on with Wilson calling games or how Wilson was catching with deGrom, it was more the fact deGrom was having success with Nido. It was kind of independent of Wilson.
“We’re at this point now where Jacob is on a roll, he punched out 10 with Wilson the other day, looked great, had electric stuff, was executing his pitches. If he’s doing that it doesn’t matter who is catching him and he’s going to win. He’s a great pitcher and understands it’s his ability to execute pitches that is going to allow him to have success or not.”
Robinson Cano, Brandon Nimmo and Justin Wilson are continuing their rehab assignments at Triple-A Syracuse. Jed Lowrie is participating in baseball activities in Port St. Lucie, but is not close to playing in minor league games, according to Callaway.
The manager said Wilson may need to pitch in “more than a few games” before returning to the Mets.
The lefty reliever made his initial rehab appearance Tuesday, then pitched the first inning Thursday, allowing one run on two hits and striking out two against Charlotte.
Nimmo (bulging disk) needs to progress to the point at which he can play nine innings on a consistent basis, according to Callaway.
Cano (left quadriceps) is receiving at-bats to build up for a return potentially on the next road trip. Neither Nimmo nor Cano played Thursday after seeing action Tuesday and Wednesday.
Noah Syndergaard said he is feeling better from a recent bout with strep throat. He remains on track to pitch Saturday.
Mets pinch-hitters entered Thursday third in the National League with a .272 batting average and .864 OPS. J.D. Davis struck out as a pinch hitter Thursday night.
