Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
Mets veteran starter Carlos Carrasco left Wednesday’s start early with lower back tightness, and while Carrasco believes it to be minor, it’s just another issue on a long list that the Mets starting rotation has dealt with in 2022.
Ace Jacob deGrom has missed the entire season, Max Scherzer has been out for over a month, and Tylor Megill is on the injured list for the second time this season. Not to mention that Taijuan Walker missed a few starts earlier in the season.
Let’s take a look at what the Mets rotation looks like right now:
Friday – Taijuan Walker
Walker has been a different pitcher in his last two outings with 19 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings after striking out only 35 in his first 52 2/3 innings of the season. Walker has allowed only one run in back-to-back outings lowering his season ERA to a sparkling 2.88. The 29-year-old missed a couple of starts in April and pitched through some back pain last month, but he’s looked completely healthy in a terrific June.
Saturday – Chris Bassitt
The veteran right-hander had a tough stretch from the middle of May through the beginning of June with a 7.96 ERA in five starts but has looked great with only three runs allowed on eight hits in his last two starts spanning 14 1/3 innings.
Sunday – Max Scherzer??
Scherzer threw 65 pitches in 3 1/3 innings for Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday in his first and potentially last rehab start. The three-time Cy Young winner is now under consideration to start on Sunday against the Marlins. Getting Scherzer back would be a huge boost at the right time for the Mets rotation. Scherzer has a 2.54 ERA in eight starts this year for the Mets
Next Week
Thankfully the Mets have a day off on Monday and Thursday. David Peterson would be available on a full week’s rest on Tuesday against the Astros after pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Marlins on June 20. The left-hander has a 3.49 ERA in eight starts for the Mets this year.
The Mets could then decide to bring back Walker on normal rest to pitch on Wednesday. That would eliminate the need for Trevor Williams (4.88 ERA as a starter in 2022) and allow them to give Carrasco more than a week of rest before his next potential start. And if Carrasco isn’t ready, they can simply use Bassitt on normal rest.
Let’s just say it’s good timing for the Mets to have multiple off days in a week.
DeGrom Soon?
DeGrom pitched to live hitters on Tuesday as he works his way back from a stress reaction in his right scapula. It’s possible that deGrom throws one more live BP and then heads to a rehab assignment. Of course, given that he hasn’t pitched since July of last year, deGrom will need multiple rehab starts before he’s ready to join the Mets.
Still Pretty Early for Trades
The trade deadline –August 2 this year–is still over a month away and the newly expanded playoffs could push teams that would ordinarily be sellers into keeping pieces. I’m not saying the Mets won’t be active, because I think they will as we get closer to the trade, but prices would be very high right now for an arm like Frankie Montas.
The two off-day week also allows the Mets to get a week closer to the deadline without needing to dig deeper into their depth. After next week, the Mets will have a much better idea of what to expect from Carrasco, Scherzer, and deGrom going forward and just what the level of concern will be in terms of adding a starter.
