The Mets announced after their win on Saturday night that Rafael Montero will make the start in place of Jacob deGrom on Monday. He’s been much better since being sent to Binghamton, going 4-2 with a 1.70 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in eight starts. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts which covers 13 innings.
Montero was sent down to Binghamton after struggling in Vegas with a 7.20 ERA and the league hitting .329 against him. The 25-year old right-hander allowed three runs in 2.1 innings earlier in the season for the Mets.
Previous Report – August 26
The New York Mets made it official Friday night, announcing that they would indeed be skipping Jacob deGrom‘s next turn in the rotation. General Manager, Sandy Alderson advises that they do not believe this to be a medical issue with their star pitcher.
“At this point, I don’t think we believe it is a medical issue,” said Alderson. “The last couple of starts his ball just has not moved the way it typically does. We don’t think that’s related to injury. We think it’s maybe related to mechanics.” (NY Post)
Both Terry Collins and Alderson believe the rest will help Jake get back to where he was before hitting a wall in his previous two starts. DeGrom seemed skeptical that the rest may help his current issues.
“That’s hard to say until you do it. Of course I want to be out there but these past few, I haven’t helped the team very much,” deGrom said. “So if that’s in the best interests then that’s the plan we decided to go with. I want to be out there but I think this is going to help me in the long run.”
Jake has done a good job of pitching without his best stuff throughout the season. It is possible the work load has gotten to him somewhat, hopefully for deGrom and the Mets this is nothing but a little blip in what has been a solid season for himself.
Options to pitch in place of deGrom include Sean Gilmartin, Gabriel Ynoa, Rafael Montero and Logan Verrett.
Original Report – August 25
The New York Mets are considering pushing back Jacob deGrom‘s next start in order to give him some extra rest. The team believes deGrom is fatigued, causing his issues on the mound.
DeGrom has now had back-to-back poor starts in which he has struggled with his location as well as being hit extremely hard. Over his last two starts he has given up a combined 13 runs on 25 hits while walking three over 9.2 innings. Manager, Terry Collins believes that the season is beginning to take it’s toll on Jake.
“It looks like he is getting run down,” Collins said. “I don’t know if we need to move him back, push him back or whatever it might be, but we need to consider certainly getting him some rest.” (NY Post)
At a time when the club is already stretched extremely thin for pitching help, sitting deGrom at this juncture of the season is not ideal. It though is possibly necessary as deGrom has seemed to hit somewhat of a wall over his last couple starts. To his credit though, he does not believe he is in need of any rest. Prior to this bump in a road, he has a had a fantastic season, pitching to a 7-7 record with a 2.96 ERA and a WHIP of 1.17.
“These last two were frustrating, but I’ve got another one [Monday], so I have to get ready for that one,” deGrom said. “I don’t feel tired at all.”
The Mets do not have too many starters left to turn to with Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman already penciled into the starting rotation. Gabriel Ynoa or Sean Gilmartin would seem to make the most sense to take a turn in the rotation for deGrom, should it come to that.
The hits just keep on coming for a rotation that was supposed to be this team’s strength. They look to continue to piece it together while in the midst of a run for the second Wild Card spot, with every series being important.
