Morning Briefing: Mets to Celebrate DeGrom's Birthday With Two Games

Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Happy Saturday, Mets fans!

It was an unfortunate loss on Friday night for the Mets, who were walked off after the Nationals took a 0-0 tie into the bottom of the ninth. On the bright side, starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi shined, pitching 5.1 IP and allowing zero earned runs, striking out five in the appearance. After a rough start to the year, Lucchesi has settled in during his last five starts, posting a 1.19 ERA during that time frame and allowing just three earned runs over 22.2 IP.

Today, on the date of Jacob deGrom’s 33rd birthday, we get not one, but two Mets games to watch, the first of which beginning at 1:05 p.m. EST. This will mark the first of two doubleheaders in the near future, the next one being Monday against the Braves.

Latest Mets News

Speaking of deGrom, the Mets’ ace and MVP frontrunner was seen in the visiting bullpen at Nationals Park on Friday afternoon, throwing off of one of the mounds. The right-handed flamethrower was going through his regular between-starts routine, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

According to Tim Britton of The Athletic, the Mets are approaching deGrom on a day-by-day basis right now, but he felt good in his 10-pitch side-session. This comes as relieving news for Mets fans after deGrom came out of his last start early with right shoulder soreness.

Jerad Eickhoff and Yennsy Diaz have travelled to Washington D.C. with the Mets as members of their taxi squad, according to Britton of The Athletic. Eickhoff was scheduled to start in Triple-A Syracuse today, and the sudden move to the taxi squad has many wondering whether he’ll be the arm of choice for game two of today’s doubleheader.

Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who has been dealing with a ligament issue in his hand, may go on a rehab assignment next week, according to Tim Healey of Newsday.

The Mets intend to activate outfielder Albert Almora, who traveled with the Mets to Washington D.C., sometime during today’s doubleheader, according to DiComo of MLB.com.

New York is most likely going to wait until Monday to activate infielder Jeff McNeil off of the IL, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

The Mets announced their Pride Night celebration on Friday, which is scheduled for June 25 at Citi Field, according to the New York Mets Twitter account.

Mets pitching prospect Joander Saurez, who was ranked as high as #25 in the Mets farm system, recently underwent Tommy John surgery, according to Michael Mayer of Metsmerized.

Gary Cohen and the rest of the Mets broadcast booth will call today’s doubleheader from the Citi Field dining hall, because there will be graduation ceremonies happening on the field, according to Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Outfielder Johneshwy Fargas tweeted out about his excitement to come back to the lineup on Friday, to the delight of many Mets fans.

Wayne Randazzo confirmed that the man who dressed as Donnie Stevenson was actor Brett Azar, according to Mayer of Metsmerized.

Latest MLB News

Angels’ two-way talent Shohei Ohtani announced he will be participating in the 2021 Home Run Derby at Coors Field, according to his own personal Instagram account. Bullpen catcher Jason Brown will throw to him.

Rob Arthur of Baseball Prospectus analyzed how the lack of sticky stuff on baseballs may not only impact pitchers’ spin rate, but also the distance in which baseballs travel on the fly.

The Washington Nationals activated Starlin Castro off the RL, and RHP Austin Voth from the IL, according to the Nationals Twitter account.

The Kansas City Royals selected the contract of Anthony Swarzak on Friday, and moved Ronald Bolanos to the 60-day IL to create 40-man roster space, according to MLB Trade Rumors.