Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets’ rotation could get a boost this weekend with the return of one of their primary starters.
Carlos Carrasco is eyeing a weekend return after completing a 55-pitch sim game on Monday, according to manager Buck Showalter. He reported that Carrasco felt “good” during the game and today, noting that he should be back into the rotation “by the end of the week” if all progresses well.
It was reported over the weekend that the righty was slightly ahead of schedule with recovery from his injury. Carrasco suffered a mild oblique strain on August 15. He was projected to be out for three-to-four weeks, and if he returns on Saturday–five days after his sim start–it would put him just two days ahead of the three-week timeline.
Carrasco has a 3.92 ERA (3.66 FIP) and a 101 ERA+ through 126 1/3 innings this season.
With an off day on Monday and another next Thursday, the Mets have the opportunity to rearrange their rotation how they please with Carrasco’s return. They could also implement a six-man rotation for a week or two.
One option could go as follows: squeeze another start out of David Peterson on Friday before activating Carrasco (in place of Peterson) for Saturday’s game, giving Max Scherzer a full week off between starts on Sunday. That would also give Taijuan Walker, Jacob deGrom, and Chris Bassitt each an extra day of rest before their following starts. Then there would be an off day Thursday, and then a rotation in the order of Carrasco-Scherzer-Walker-deGrom-Bassitt can settle back into place. Each would have at least five days off between each start over two turns through in this scenario.
Maintaining health and stamina will be important for the Mets over the month of September as the team eyes its first postseason berth since 2016. Five of the team’s top seven starters have spent time on the injured list this season.
