New York Mets: Jacob deGrom to the Bullpen?
By Kit Anderson
The New York Mets could ease Jacob deGrom back from injury by putting him in the bullpen. It’s a potentially good move for the club as it eyes a postseason berth.
The New York Mets are again right in the middle of the postseason race headed down the stretch. They have had a lot of injuries this season and chief among them would be Jacob deGrom dealing with arm soreness.
DeGrom recently threw a 35-pitch bullpen session and if all goes well could rejoin the team this week. While it was specified they will make sure there is no soreness before deGrom returns, they do expect the young pitcher back this week.
He may not be in his usual starting role, however, as the Mets could ease deGrom back in by sending him to the bullpen. Adding deGrom to their bullpen is an interesting choice, though an understandable one.
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Putting deGrom in the bullpen adds a nice weapon to have at manager Terry Collins‘ disposal. It will also help limit deGrom’s innings as he works his way back from injury. Overall the team is starting to look much the same as it did last season during its postseason run. The offense is hitting the ball out of the park with more regularity and the pitching is doing the heavy lifting.
While it is still very much up in the air as to who will capture the second Wild Card spot, the Mets are starting to make themselves the favorites. Going into must-win games, no team is going to want to face the starters the Mets can throw at them.
Their rotation may not feature the best pitcher in the league, but it is no doubt the deepest pitching staff in the National League. The problem for them this season has been keeping the offense going and keeping their pitching healthy. If going into postseason they can do both of those things, you have to like their chances of repeating as National League champions.
The first step toward getting their rotation healthy will be adding Jacob deGrom back into the rotation. While it looks like we are still a ways from that, the pending move to the bullpen is a good sign for Mets fans. It optimistically means that deGrom should soon be back in the rotation and making their top three starters three of the most formidable in the game.
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DeGrom will be given a bit of time to recover from his 35-pitch bullpen session, and then he could be ready to go as a member of the Mets bullpen. The Mets play the division rival Washington Nationals tonight at 7:05.