PORT ST. LUCIE – Carlos Carrasco was on track to start the season in the Mets rotation, until it wasn’t.
Just hours after the right-hander threw 20 pitches in a simulated game on Thursday and coach Luis Rojas expressed confidence that Carrasco could be ready for his first start to the regular season, the Mets announced that the veteran pitcher was subdued. to an MRI examination by a right hamstring tendon. sustained during the sprints after their launch session.
Carrasco, according to a source, suffered a high-grade tear that would likely cost him six to eight weeks on the injured list.
The setback opens the door to two of the three between David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi and Jordan Yamamoto to join the initial rotation.
“We’ve talked about the depth in this. We always praise the work our main office has done,” Rojas said after the Mets lost 3-1 to the Nationals in a League game. arrange Clover Park.
Carrasco, who turns 34 this weekend, was delayed in the launch after experiencing elbow discomfort and going out last week. He began training late this spring to receive an additional medical evaluation as a leukemia survivor.
Rojas was unaware of the hamstring injury when he spoke to reporters before the Mets faced the nationals. The coach had indicated that he was looking at Carrasco throwing 35-40 pitches in his next session and that he still had enough time to prepare for his first outing.
“It’s devastating to see how Carrasco works and obviously I think we need him in the rotation to be elite,” Marcus Stroman said. “I hope he proceeds with this and we can recover it quite early. Although no, it’s not the opening day [roster]I think it’s more important to focus on health and make sure it’s good for those who start later. “
Stroman said his confidence is high in the Mets ’depth of rotation.
“I definitely think if there’s a team that supports having a few starts, I think it’s us,” Stroman said. “[But] obviously we are waiting for Carrasco to come back because it is a great advantage for our staff “.
Lucchesi and Yamamoto, who came into business out of season, have been the most impressive of the starting pitchers competing for a job. There is a vacancy because Noah Syndergaard’s rehabilitation from Tommy John’s surgery will not be complete until June. Carrasco’s injury leaves a second opening, behind Jacob deGrom, Stroman and Taijuan Walker.
“We have a pretty good depth, but not only that, but having a guy like Jake, like Marcus and Peterson and the guys also have experience starting games over the last few years gives us relief when something like that can happen,” he said. dir Rojas.
Jerad Eickhoff, Corey Oswalt and Mike Montgomery are other pitchers with camp in the major league experience. Montgomery, signed with a minor league contract, has been working from the bullring this spring, but Rojas said the leftists could be stretched to start the service.
“He’s one of those hybrid guys who has done both,” Rojas said. “And the way to throw the other day looked good. You can see a guy going through training a couple of times with these things. We are working to stretch it, be multi-entry and you can always have a plan from here ”.