After throwing 60 pitches in a simulated game today, Jacob deGrom It seems likely that he is ready for the season opener on Friday. (Dan Martin of the New York Post was one of those who reported the news.) While a simulated game is not a substitute for a real outing, of course deGrom’s good results were encouraging: he did not allow a hit against any of the 14 batters faced and recorded nine strikeouts. The strain on his back caused deGrom to quit last week’s intraframe game after just one work inning, raising new questions about whether the Mets ace would be ready for the start of the season.
With the Mets and Yankees competing in exhibition action tonight, here are some notes from both Big Apple franchises …
- DeGrom is not the only star launcher to show progress as it Yankees right handed Masahiro Tanaka It looked good during a bullpen session today. Manager Aaron Boone told George A. King III of the New York Post and other media that Tanaka will likely face hitters possibly on Tuesday, marking the first time that Tanaka has faced live hitters since he was hit in the head by a hit. Giancarlo Stanton driving line on July 4. Fortunately, Tanaka escaped with only a mild concussion, and if she continues to rehabilitate well, Tanaka could end up missing just one start. “You may be able to start from the end of the second trip through rotation,” King writes.
- Aaron Hicks he had Tommy John surgery last October but told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com that his right elbow was “it feels good now“, And is on the way to do Yankees‘Opening list of the day. Throwing has been a particular source of improvement, as Hicks said. “The ball went very well last week. I feel like I’ve been able to carry my ball much more, especially throwing home [plate]. “
- Also from Hoch’s note piece, Luis Cessa has reached the Yankees‘Summer camp after recovering from COVID-19. The right-hander tested positive before arriving at camp, and went through the standard two-week quarantine procedure and two consecutive negative results before he was allowed to join his teammates. Cessa played today and will throw a mound on Monday, although it is not yet clear if he will be ready for the Yankees’ first game.
- Robert Gsellman has been struggling against the strain on his right triceps, Mets Manager Luis Rojas told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com and other reporters. While Gsellman started playing on flat ground, Rojas was unsure if Gsellman would be available for the Opening Day roster. The right-hander has been a workhorse reliever for the Mets the past two seasons, throwing 143 1/3 relief innings and posting a 4.45 ERA, 2.55 K / BB rate and 8.1 K / 9. Gsellman missed six weeks with a similar injury last season, although Rojas said “there is nothing to worry about in the past history. “
