Tomorrows Probable Pitchers: John Maine vs Oliver Perez

Adam Rubin of the Daily News, checks in on Oliver Perez and John Maine who are both rehabbing in Port St. Lucie.

Rubin writes,

Oliver Perez and John Maine will oppose each other in a makeshift game in Port St. Lucie tomorrow involving extended spring training players, pitching coach Dan Warthen told the Daily News. Afterward, Maine should be ready to re-enter the Mets rotation, while Perez would advance to an official minor-league rehab start, indicating a return within two weeks is possible.

“Right now is the best he’s felt for a long time,” Warthen said about Perez, who aborted his last comeback attempt after right knee discomfort flared up following a May 26 start for Triple-A Buffalo.

John Maine is expected to just spend the minimum time on the DL after experiencing some weakness in the back of his right shoulder. The article mentions that he threw pain-free yesterday which is very encouraging to say the least. Maine will most likely be activated from the DL on Monday, which means that Fernando Nieve will make one more start on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

If all goes well for Oliver Perez, he could begin a minor league rehab and pitch in games soon after and rejoin the Mets in as little as two weeks assuming there are no further setbacks.

Afterward, Maine should be ready to re-enter the Mets rotation, while Perez would advance to an official minor-league rehab start, indicating a return within two weeks is possible.

“Right now is the best he’s felt for a long time,” Warthen said about Perez, who aborted his last comeback attempt after right knee discomfort flared up following a May 26 start for Triple-A Buffalo.All in all, some very welcomed positive news on the injury front.