Jacob deGrom is scheduled to make his next start on Thursday, Terry Collins told reporters on Tuesday.
DeGrom was scratched from Monday’s start against the Tigers with back stiffness after sleeping on a soft mattress the night before.
On Monday, deGrom threw 39 pitches during a bullpen session at Tradition Field and proclaimed himself good to go.
Incidentally, Steven Matz will be pitching the other split-squad game on Thursday, while Bartolo Colon pitches Friday and Matt Harvey on Saturday.
Original Report
New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom has been scratched from Monday’s Grapefruit League start in Lakeland against the Detroit Tigers, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
The team is saying that deGrom is dealing with some back stiffness.
Instead, deGrom Will remain at the team’s complex in Port St. Lucie and have a bullpen session where he’ll throw a similar amount of pitches.
“I think it’s more precautionary,” deGrom said. “I really didn’t want to ride on the bus for a couple of hours and then go try to pitch.”
“Today I feel good. Yesterday I felt good. I think it’s just more not sitting on the bus for a couple of hours and then going out there and pitching.”
Seth Lugo instead will start against the Tigers in deGrom’s place.
