The red-hot New York Mets entered Wednesday afternoon’s home game against the Washington Nationals sitting at 34-17 despite two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and right-hander Tylor Megill all being sidelined with injuries.Â
Before Wednesday’s contest, Mets manager Buck Showalter told reporters Megill is “nearing a rehab assignment” in his recovery from a “relatively mild” case of biceps tendinitis in his pitching arm and could return to the rotation as soon as during the club’s upcoming west coast road trip.Â
Showalter also surprised some when he announced deGrom will join up with the team during the trip. The 33-year-old, who missed the second half of the 2021 campaign because of lingering elbow issues, hasn’t pitched yet this season due to a stress reaction in his right scapula.Â
“I know additionally he has something from a family standpoint but he will be with us out there for the most part,” Showalter said of deGrom, according to Joe Pantorno of AM New York Metro. “I know more than I’m letting on.”Â
Showalter added that deGrom is “doing good” and “crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s” in his rehab.Â
“We kind of have a side bet about the order — a kind of handicap on the board on what order each [injured player] will come back,” Showalter explained. “But the baseball gods laugh when you tell them about your plans so I don’t [give a date]. We have a pretty good idea when he’s coming back.”Â
It was previously reported that deGrom could make his season debut late this month or in early July before the All-Star break, but Showalter wasn’t making any guarantees on the first day of June.Â
“He’s going to be ready as soon as he can,” Showalter remarked.Â
There shouldn’t be any rush to get deGrom back on the bump unless the Mets suffer a lengthy losing streak over the next several weeks.Â
