Mets ace Jacob deGrom to make second rehab start Friday

It may be "far from certain" that ace Jacob deGrom will remain with the New York Mets past the 2022 MLB campaign, as he can and possibly will opt out of his current contract this fall. For now, though, all anyone involved can worry about is deGrom's health as he works to fully return from the stress reaction in the scapula of his pitching shoulder that's kept him sidelined all season. 

As was expected, the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner began his minor league rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie this past Sunday. Per Anthony DiComo of the team's website and SNY, deGrom will next take the bump for St. Lucie on Friday against the Daytona Tortugas. 

DiComo adds that deGrom is expected to throw around 40 pitches in his next rehab outing after the 34-year-old struck out five of six batters across 24 pitches this past weekend. Assuming deGrom needs "three or four more rehab starts," as reported, before he's ready to face MLB opposition, he likely won't make his campaign debut until after the upcoming All-Star break. 

Lingering elbow issues cost deGrom the second half of last season, and he hasn't thrown a pitch during a regular-season game since July 7, 2021. Even without his services, the 50-31 Mets still hold a two-and-a-half-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East standings.