Mets Tidbits
- It has been announced today that Jacob deGrom will rejoin the rotation this weekend and start Sunday’s afternoon game in Atlanta against the Braves. DeGrom has been out since April 8th due to a right lat injury and his son’s Jaxon’s birth. He threw a 71-pitch simulated game in Port St. Lucie yesterday and he appears ready to go. DeGrom will throw one more bullpen session in Port St. Lucie on Friday and join his teammates in Atlanta on Saturday, which is the deadline for him to be activated off the emergency list. Rafael Montero is expected to be optioned back to AAA Las Vegas as soon as deGrom is activated.
- Logan Verrett who has made two starts in place of Jacob deGrom, has more than proved his value to the Mets as both a spot-starter and as a reliever in the Mets bullpen.Verrett is 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA this season and he also has a 2.36 ERA in six career starts for the Mets. Verrett is also holding opposing left handed hitters to a .190 opponent batting average and righties to a .179 batting average since returning to the Mets last season. Manager Terry Collins talked about Verrett’s role on the team and was more than satisfied stating,”We know there’s going to be a day when somebody is going to show up sick who is supposed to pitch. Hopefully, this guy is rested enough. If you need somebody, he can step in and do the job.”
- While the Mets bats have begun to catch up with the starting pitching the Mets bullpen has done a great job despite numerous questions by outsiders coming into the season. The pen has stranded 17 of 20 inherited runners and retired 34 of 42 first batters faced so far this season. The Mets bullpen’s 3.18 ERA is the fourth lowest in the National League and the pitchers have issued 14 walks while striking out 49 over 39.2 innings. Collectively this group has done a great job and as the season goes on you can only hope they don’t get overworked and can keep building confidence from the strong first month. Don’t forget Josh Edgin is only a couple of weeks away from rejoining this team which will only make them stronger.
- Speaking of Josh Edgin, his rehab assignment seems to be going great as he threw a scoreless inning of relief last night for the St. Lucie Mets. In his last three rehab appearances for the St. Lucie Mets, Edgin has thrown 2.1 scoreless innings while only allowing one hit, striking out three, and walking none. Edgin who is recovering from Tommy John surgery is scheduled to come off the disabled list on May 1st.
- With the Atlanta Braves scheduled to open a new ballpark next season, the New York Mets will make their first of three final trips this season to Turner Field on Friday. The Mets have an all-time record of 60-103 in 163 regular season contests. The Mets are also 0-3 in the postseason at Turner Field, back when the Mets made their lone postseason appearance at the stadium in 1999. Turner Field has always been known as a house of horrors for the Mets since it’s opening in 1997 and I’m sure the Mets won’t miss it at all next season.
Above The Mendoza 