New York Mets starting pitcher Chris Bassitt. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' Chris Bassitt placed on COVID list ahead of scheduled start vs. Rangers

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/1/22

Just when the New York Mets were finally starting to get some good news on their much-beleaguered starting rotation, the group took another hit on Friday.

Mets right-hander Chris Bassitt, who was scheduled to start tonight, has been placed on the COVID injured list. Taking his place on the roster is R.J. Alvarez. David Peterson will start instead.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 1, 2022

Bassitt has been tasked with carrying the load through the first half for an injury-ravaged unit of starters, and has gone 6-5 with a 4.01 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 95 strikeouts over 89 2/3 innings pitched across 15 starts. Bassitt joined the Mets in the offseason after breaking out in his final season with the Oakland Athletics in 2021, making his first All-Star team and finishing 12-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.

Due largely to the injuries to aces Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, the first-year Mets hurler leads the team in both innings pitched and strikeouts.

Despite the injury issues, New York has held onto the top spot in the NL East for nearly the entire season thus far. They enter play on Friday with a 47-29 record and 3 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Atlanta Braves.

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