Photo by Chris Simon

Updated Post: April 7, 15:50 PM

Max Scherzer told reporters on Thursday that he will make his Mets debut on Friday night against the Nationals. He’s not sure how many pitches he will be able to throw, but called his hamstring issue minor.

Brandon Nimmo is not the in Opening Day lineup despite not needing a trip to the injured list with his neck injury. Mark Canha is getting the start in center field with Starling Marte in right field.

Updated Post: April 7, 11:15 AM

Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that Brandon Nimmo has avoided a trip to the injured list and will be on the Opening Day roster. It remains to be seen whether or not Nimmo will be in the lineup on Thursday against lefty Patrick Corbin though.

Original Post: April 6, 16:31 PM

Opening Day is nearly upon us but the Mets are still sweating it out on Brandon Nimmo and Max Scherzer.

The Mets will get the 2022 MLB season underway on Thursday against the Nationals at Nationals Park, with second-year starter Tylor Megill set to take the mound with Jacob deGrom on the shelf for at least a month with a shoulder injury.

They could also start the season without Nimmo, who missed the final two games of spring training with a stiff neck.

Nimmo, who ended up being on the injured list for nearly four months in 2019 with a bulging disc in his neck, is still under evaluation ahead of Opening Day but he hasn’t yet been ruled out.

However, according to Mets manager Buck Showalter, the outfielder could be sat for an extra day or two or be put on the IL, which doesn’t sound great.

Should Nimmo, who hit a home run and had five walks with a .631 OPS in 31 spring plate appearances, be put on the shelf, then Mark Canha and Starling Marte will likely hold it down in center field.

Meanwhile, in potentially better news, Scherzer will also be assessed on Thursday in the hope that he is able to pitch against the Nats on Friday.

Scherzer was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday with a hamstring injury, but he came through a bullpen session unscathed on Tuesday and he was seen throwing off flat ground at Nationals Park earlier on Wednesday.

Mets Pitching Coach Jeremy Hefner appeared confident about Scherzer’s chances of pitching on Friday, as did Showalter who was encouraged by the fact that the three-time Cy Young Award Winner had suffered no setbacks in his road to recovery.

That is certainly a huge positive for the Mets who have had to absorb plenty of body blows in the final week of spring training, but some of that pain will be alleviated if Scherzer can pitch against his former team in the second game of the season on Friday.

Finally, Showalter also confirmed that outfielder Travis Jankowski has made the Opening Day roster. A career .239 hitter, Jankowski slashed .222/.391/.222 with a .614 OPS in 23 spring plate appearances, while showing off his defensive prowess in the field.