Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets are starting to look like the team that was promised on paper.
After Monday’s doubleheader, the starting rotation is set with New York’s big three pitching consecutively. Max Scherzer makes his return from his 10-game suspension, Justin Verlander makes his regular season Mets debut, and Kodai Senga returns after a week off.
The Mets have more weather concerns upcoming this week, causing Scherzer to get pushed back one day. He would be eligible to pitch Tuesday’s game against Detroit but will be pushed back until Wednesday. Joey Lucchesi will start instead Tuesday.
Thus it lines up Scherzer, Verlander on Thursday, and Senga on Friday against the Rockies.
Additionally, it sounds like the Mets are happy with the progress being made by Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco landed on the injured list on April 19 due to right elbow inflammation. Manager Buck Showalter said he could be inserted back into the rotation next week.
With Carrasco’s return imminent, Monday and Tuesday could be a showcase between Tylor Megill and Lucchesi for the final rotation spot. The Mets already trimmed the starters room by optioning David Peterson to Triple-A with Verlander ready to return.
Megill hasn’t been spectacular. In five starts he has a 3.96 ERA over 25.0 innings pitched. He’s walked 12 and struck out 19. Megill has only gone past five innings once this season. His last two outings haven’t been impressive allowing three runs, seven hits, and four walks to the Dodgers then giving up four runs in four innings against the Giants.
Lucchesi has made two starts since starting the season in Triple-A. He had a terrific debut against the Giants, throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out nine. He then followed it with a 5 1/3 inning outing against the Nationals where he was charged with three runs.
Megill will have the tougher draw between the two, going against the Braves lineup Monday night. The other advantage Lucchesi has is he’d be the lone lefty in the rotation.
The Mets rotation is becoming fuller, hopefully it means no more Denyi Reyes starts for a long time.
