Mets Notebook: Justin Verlander inching closer to return, Jose Quintana could be cleared to throw soon
Justin Verlander continues to inch closer to a return to action and his long-awaited Mets debut.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner completed what is expected to be the final step in his rehab from a teres major strain Friday, making a rehab start with Double-A Binghamton.
The 40-year-old right-hander threw 69 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out six against the Akron RubberDucks. He struck out the last two batters he faced and his fastball reached 95 MPH, which is standard for the veteran and consistent with his velocity before his late-spring injury.
This was the first rehab start for Verlander and should be able to return next week, he would be lined up to start in Detroit against the Tigers, the team he came up with and won his first two Cy Young Awards with.
However, the Mets aren’t quite ready to pencil him for a start at Comerica Park. Manager Buck Showalter said the club needs to see how he feels through the weekend before making any decisions. The club has not ruled out the possibility of a second rehab start, though it seems unlikely.
“I don’t wanna get too far ahead until we get a chance to talk to Justin,” Showalter said Friday afternoon before the Mets began a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. “There are probably some things he’ll say to us that he may not have said in the postgame interview.”
The Mets were encouraged by the outing and pleased that he threw nearly 70 pitches.
“It’s good to get him up close to 70,” Showalter said. “We’ll see where we go from there, see how he recovers tomorrow. But so far, so good.”
The rotation the Mets built over the winter has yet to take shape, but the club is hopeful that they could get a full turn from Verlander, Max Scherzer, Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana and Carlos Carrasco this summer. Quintana (bone graft surgery) will have more imaging done in three weeks. If the doctors see what they want to see, he could be cleared start throwing again. Carrasco (bone chip in right elbow) threw a bullpen Thursday and had positive results. He’ll throw an up-down bullpen Sunday.
As far as depth pitchers, right-hander Elieser Hernandez (shoulder strain) threw a 20-pitch bullpen Thursday and will do light throwing from 60 feet Saturday. Right-handed reliever Sam Coonrod (lat strain) is coming to New York to continue his rehab shortly.
“We got good news on all fronts today,” Showalter said. “What happens is, a lot of times, you plug one hole and another one appears.”
WEATHER GAMES
The forecast for the Mets-Braves series is far from ideal. With rain predicted Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday, rainouts are possible. The two teams could play a doubleheader Monday but getting in even two games this weekend could be a challenge.
The Mets would have to alter course with their pitching plans in the event of any rainout since they would further delay Scherzer’s return from a 10-game suspension. Scherzer has been serving his league-imposed punishment from a sticky substance violation that occurred April 19 in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Scherzer hopes to return for the series finale to face the NL East’s top team.
“I do know that doubleheaders are killers,” Showalter said. “That’s tough because it messes with your bullpen and messes with your rotation, and in our case, it messes with a player coming off suspension.”
ON DECK
The Braves will throw left-hander Max Fried, followed by right-handers Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder. The Mets don’t have anyone lined up behind left-hander David Peterson and right-hander Tylor Megill. Dating back to last season, the Mets have lost four straight and six of their last seven to their NL east foes from Atlanta.
BEST IN THE SHOW
The Westminster Kennel Club made an appearance Friday night to promote the Westminster Dog Show, which will take place across the street at the USTA Billy Jean King Tennis Center next weekend. Several show dogs took the field prior to the start of the game and members of the Mets were able to interact with the dogs and their handlers during batting practice.
