Mets ace Max Scherzer throwing bullpen sessions in rehab from oblique strain

The first-place New York Mets are enjoying an off day on Thursday sitting at 38-21. That is an impressive feat considering they've been without aces Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom, along with right-hander Tylor Megill, this spring because of injury setbacks. 

New York confirmed on May 19 that Scherzer was on track to miss six to eight weeks of action with what was called "a moderate to high grade internal oblique strain." Per Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the three-time Cy Young Award winner recently started throwing bullpen sessions at low intensity in the latest step toward returning to the rotation. 

"Scherzer is said to be progressing well, and appears to be ahead of schedule," Ragazzo noted while adding the Mets could pencil Scherzer in for a rehab assignment as early as late next week or take things "step-by-step" and have the 37-year-old first face live hitters before making any additional plans. 

Scherzer went 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA across his first eight starts before the setback.

Megill, meanwhile, has been sidelined with biceps tendinitis in his pitching arm since mid-May but is expected to start in Friday's series opener at the Los Angeles Angels. It's still unknown when deGrom will return from the stress reaction in the scapula of his pitching shoulder that's kept him out all season, but the hope is the two-time Cy Young Award winner will be able to take the bump for his campaign debut by or shortly after next month's All-Star break.