photo by rick nelson

The first month of the Mets’ season did not go according to plan, at least when it comes to their pitching rotation. For the last week-plus, the Mets were missing four-fifths of their projected starting rotation due to a combination of injuries and the 10-game suspension handed to Max Scherzer.

But, after the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Tigers which will be started by Joey Lucchesi, the rotation the Mets had been planning and hoping for will finally begin to take shape. Scherzer will return from his suspension to pitch in game two of the day against his former team. On Thursday, Justin Verlander will finally make his long-awaited debut in a Mets’ uniform, also against his former team in Detroit.

The return of Scherzer and debut of Verlander gives the Mets the ace and co-ace the team has been dreaming of since they signed Verlander to a two-year deal in the offseason to ostensibly fill the spot left by the team failing to re-sign Jacob deGrom. Scherzer hasn’t been quite himself in limited starts this season, but he is coming off of an excellent 2022 season when healthy, and had given up zero runs on just two hits in eight combined innings of his previous two outings before being ejected against the Dodgers.

Also on the mend soon is Carlos Carrasco, who made two dreadful starts in the beginning of the season but looked much better in his third outing in Oakland before hitting the injured list. Carrasco could return to the team as early as next week, according to Buck Showalter, which would further help the Mets’ rotation depth.

With Scherzer, Verlander, Carrasco, and Kodai Senga all pitching at the same time, the Mets will finally nearly be whole. Only José Quintana remains missing from what the team planned on being their five-man rotation once spring training began.

In the meantime, the Mets can be more selective about who they give starts to among their depth options. Luchessi will get a third start on Wednesday, but after that, he may return to Syracuse. Tylor Megill (3-1, 4.11 ERA) has been far from perfect but has seemingly done enough to keep his rotation spot for the time being (perhaps with another gem like he had in San Francisco the Mets would consider Luchessi jumping Megill, but it doesn’t seem likely). David Peterson is already back in Syracuse after struggling in four of his six starts this season.

Peterson and Luchessi, and perhaps even Jose Butto will likely be called on again, but the Mets at full strength can rely on them as spot starters who can fill in when the team needs a sixth man in the rotation, rather than permanent members of the unit.

Obviously, the looming question remains just how long can the Mets keep a healthy group out there with three of their top starters having an average age of 38. But, for now, the team has at least done well enough to keep their heads above water with a makeshift rotation. At 16-13, they remain within striking distance of the top of the division, and, with their aces finally ready to take the mound at the same time a weak upcoming schedule (after Detroit the Mets will play consecutive series against Colorado, Cincinnati, and the Nats), this could be their opportunity to make up some ground.