Mets' deGrom unsure of status for Opening Day
Slowed this spring by lower-back soreness, New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom admitted Sunday he's not sure he'll be ready to take the ball March 29 when his club kicks off the regular season with a matinee against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field.
"I would definitely like to start Opening Day, but that's out of my control," deGrom told reporters, including MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. "It's kind of up to them and if I can get ready in time. I think if I can get four (spring) starts, I should be ready to get ready."
Even if he can't start on Opening Day, though, deGrom suggested he'll be ready to pitch in the second series of the season, at the latest.
"If I don't start Opening Day, it's not the end of the world," he said. "The goal is to go out there and make every start once the season starts. Whether it's Opening Day that I start or it's the third, fourth, or fifth day, the goal is to make every one of them."
A week-and-a-half into the Grapefruit League schedule, deGrom has yet to make his debut, having only thrown his first bullpen session of the spring Friday. It went well, deGrom said, adding he didn't feel any discomfort in his back, but the 29-year-old still has to pitch a simulated game Tuesday before he gets into a Grapefruit League contest.
"I was letting it go," deGrom told Abbey Mastracco of NJ.com. "I felt good. I threw every pitch; no problems with any of them. Definitely a step in the right direction."
Whether a healthy deGrom, incidentally, would even get the Opening Day assignment is up for debate. Despite his impressive resume - he was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2014, and has finished in the top eight in Cy Young voting in two of the last three seasons - deGrom has yet to start on Opening Day for the Mets, getting passed over in favor of Bartolo Colon in 2015, Matt Harvey the following season, and Noah Syndergaard last year.
In 2017, however, deGrom was the lone bright spot in an injury-ravaged Mets rotation, leading the club in WAR (4.4) and innings pitched (201 1/3) - he was the only starter to take the ball more than 22 times - while crafting a 3.53 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP over his 31 starts.