Mets confirm Jacob deGrom will make Triple-A rehab start Thursday

It was recently learned that New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom was penciled in for a third rehab start and a first such appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday as he works to return from the stress reaction in the scapula of his pitching shoulder that's kept him out of the big-league rotation all season. 

The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner seems good to go for that outing. 

Per Anthony DiComo of the MLB website, deGrom will take the bump for Triple-A Syracuse Thursday evening against Jacksonville. Previously, the 34-year-old pitched a combined 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a pair of rehab starts with Single-A St. Lucie, and he struck out 11 of 18 batters against the lesser competition.

DiComo notes that deGrom tossed 36 pitches in his Single-A appearance last week and hopes to "eclipse 50 pitches for the first time" on Thursday. Because of the upcoming All-Star break, deGrom may next have to throw a simulated game before it's determined if he could be ready to return to the Mets as soon as July 24 against the San Diego Padres or two days later when the Amazins take on the New York Yankees.

It was reported last week the Mets want deGrom to ideally notch two MLB starts before the Aug. 2 trade deadline so they can make a final call regarding potentially adding a starting arm for the season's closing stretch. Per the timeline, that goal is technically still reachable depending on what happens over the next week or so. 

Elbow issues cost deGrom the second half of last season, and he still hasn't pitched in an MLB regular-season game since July 7, 2021.