ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The good news: J.D. Davis has been feeling much better and is expected to come off the injured list this weekend, maybe even in time to face a left-hander in the Tampa Bay series. The bad news: Brandon Nimmo may be back to the drawing board with his bone bruise.
Davis (left hand sprain) will likely be activated as soon as Saturday. He was eligible to come off the IL this past Wednesday, but the Mets were being extra cautious with his hand injury while he swung the bat. The Mets third baseman last played on May 1 in Philly and missed 11 games.
Nimmo (left index finger bone bruise) played in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, batting leadoff and playing center, and went 0-for-3. In his last at-bat, his finger began to hurt again so he was taken off another rehab assignment while the Mets treated him. Nimmo was eligible to come off the IL on Friday, but Mets manager Luis Rojas said he needs at least a few more days to return.
“They’re going to see what [Nimmo] feels, what his pain tolerance is,” Rojas said.
Initially, Rojas said Nimmo was ahead of Davis in terms of progression from their respective injuries. That outlook has since flip-flopped, with Davis now hitting off the velo machine and expected to be activated in Tampa.
Jacob deGrom (right side tightness) and the Mets are hopeful he can come off the injured list when eligible on May 21 against the Marlins. The prospect of that happening would involve deGrom throwing a bullpen soon, and the Mets have yet to schedule a session for the ace.
Optimistically though, deGrom has told the team his right side tightness feels better. When he spoke to reporters this past Tuesday, he was hopeful, but not certain, that he would only miss one start while on the IL. If he is able to return in Miami, he will have skipped just one turn through the rotation.
“The bullpen date, we still don’t have it,” Rojas said. “We’re going on a day to day with him. He’s feeling better and better.”
DeGrom worked out in the gym and played catch at Tropicana Field on Friday. He told Rojas he felt good mechanically and his landing, while he played catch on flat ground, was back to normal.
“So positive day, that’s how we’re taking it, day to day,” Rojas said. “But the day where he goes on the slope and he throws a side, we haven’t really mapped it out.”
Carlos Carrasco (right hamstring strain, 60-day IL) is traveling with the Mets for their 10-day road trip across Tampa, Atlanta and Miami. The righty joined the club in New York and has since been receiving 1-on-1 treatment from the Mets’ medical staff and bonding with his teammates.
Click Here: Cheap FIJI Rugby Jersey
Carrasco has continued his break from ramping up since the team shifted him to the 60-day IL, pushing his Mets debut back to June at the earliest.
“It’s nice to see him around,” Rojas said. “He’s an experienced pitcher. He can see some things that other people can’t. It’s great to see him around. He’s here really early every day and he’s working really hard.”
Much like last weekend, the Mets are undecided about their fifth starter a day before he’s set to take the hill. The team first needs to see how much of its bullpen is used in Friday’s series opener before committing to a pitching plan. Rojas mentioned left-hander Joey Lucchesi (7.71 ERA, 14 IP) as an option to start Saturday’s afternoon game, though the Mets could also place an opener in front of him.