'Plan' is for ace Jacob deGrom to make next start for Mets
New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom endured a somewhat rocky rehab start for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets against the Omaha Storm Chasers on Wednesday afternoon. He surrendered two home runs and allowed four runs on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 67 pitches over four innings of work.
The Mets still seem optimistic that deGrom, who has missed the entire MLB season due to a stress reaction in the scapula of his pitching shoulder, will be ready to face big-league opposition sooner rather than later.
Per the SNY website, manager Buck Showalter told reporters before the Wednesday evening home game versus the New York Yankees that the "plan" is for deGrom to make his next start for the Mets unless he experiences some sort of setback coming off his latest appearance:
The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner previously completed three rehab starts but reported muscle soreness in his right shoulder during last week's All-Star break that delayed a throwing session and resulted in Wednesday's rehab appearance.
The initial shoulder issue first impacted deGrom late in Spring Training, and the 34-year-old hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since July 7 of last year after elbow problems sidelined him throughout the second half of the 2021 campaign.
Following Wednesday's action, the first-place Mets hit the road to take on the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. If deGrom isn't cleared to face the Nationals by Aug. 3, he could potentially pitch against the second-place Atlanta Braves at some point between Aug. 4-7.
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