Back in November, when New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler decided on Buck Showalter as the next Mets manager, deciding on who would be the Opening Day starter for the New York Mets, seemed like a problem for a later date. Well, the day has come and circumstances not foreseen a week ago, have clouded the skipper's choices.
Bad news filled the back pages for the Amazin's last week. Original Opening Day starter Jacob deGrom is out with a stress reaction on his right scapula. Mets fans will be lucky to see Jake by the All Star break this year. The road ahead does not look promising for deGrom. That is why the Mets made an imperative free-agent signing prior to the lockout, Max Scherzer. In typical Mets fashion, even Scherzer is in question.
According to Mike Puma of the Post, one day after Scherzer "was scratched from a spring training start because of hamstring discomfort, manager Buck Showalter on Sunday indicated that Scherzer is still potentially in the equation for the Mets’ first turn through the rotation."
Hey Mets fans, don't hang your heads just yet. Puma reported that Scherzer will pitch a bullpen session on Tuesday. At that point, Buck will determine whether to pitch the 37-year-old in Thursday’s opener in Washington against his old team, the Nationals, or Buck may wait and pitch Max one day later.
Puma reported that Showalter wants to keep his other starting pitchers Chris Bassitt, Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker, in their original rotation order. Other potential starters for Opening Day, if Scherzer is not ready, will be Tylor Megill, who is expected to take Jake deGrom's spot in the rotation, lefty David Peterson or 29-year-old right-hander, Trevor Williams.
