Jacob deGrom is optimistic for Opening Day. His bosses with the Mets seem less certain.
A day after receiving a clean MRI scan of his back, deGrom said he intends to pitch this weekend and, if all goes well, start July 24 against the Braves at Citi Field.
“The plan is to be able to pitch Opening Day,” he said.
But Mets officials cut off deGrom’s Zoom interview with reporters after less than six minutes, and manager Luis Rojas said the team did not have a plan for deGrom beyond Thursday afternoon, when the two-time reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was due to receive treatment.
After initially saying the Mets would determine deGrom’s next steps only after he reports to the ballpark on Friday, Rojas revealed late Thursday night that deGrom was actually able to get in a throwing session earlier in the day. Even so, Rojas would not commit to deGrom throwing a bullpen session on what would be his normal day Friday.
“We’re excited for the news that came out from the MRI obviously being clean, but this is a day-to-day approach that we’re taking,” Rojas said. “We’re all hopeful for a lot of things — that Jake can throw, that Jake can [go] Opening Day, but right now it’s a day-to-day approach that we’re taking.”
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].