Mets' rainout not the worst thing for hurting rotation
Mets pitcher Trevor Williams throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning on April 23 in Phoenix. Credit: AP/Matt York
The Mets announced the decision to postpone Monday night’s 7:10 p.m. game against the Cardinals at 3:31 p.m. because of the threat of severe afternoon/early evening thunderstorms at Citi Field.
In a Twitter post, the team wrote: “With severe weather in the area, we are thinking about everyone’s safety, so tonight’s game has been postponed.”
The game will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 3:10 p.m.
With this being the Cardinals’ only scheduled trip to Queens this season, the Mets could not postpone the game unilaterally. According to a Major League Baseball spokesman, the MLB office actually has the largest say in these situations.
The Mets probably didn’t mind the preemptive postponement, however, because their pitching staff has been depleted by injuries. Tylor Megill, who was supposed to start on Monday, went on the 15-day injured list on Sunday with right biceps inflammation. He joins relievers Trevor May and Sean Reid-Foley and, of course, Jacob deGrom on the IL.
Trevor Williams, who would have started for the Mets on Monday, will start one of Tuesday’s games, as will Taijuan Walker. The Mets did not announce which pitcher will start which game.
The Cardinals probably didn’t mind the day off, either. They flew from St. Louis to New York after playing the Sunday night ESPN game, a 15-6 victory over San Francisco that ended with Albert Pujols pitching the ninth inning.
If they wish, both teams will get to add an extra arm for the doubleheader as the 27th man.
Former Met Steven Matz is scheduled to start the first game for St. Louis. The Cardinals did not immediately announce a Game 2 starter.
Tickets from Monday’s postponement will not be honored for the doubleheader.
DeGrom update
DeGrom, who is out with a stress reaction in his right scapula, had another round of imaging on Monday.
The Mets did not immediately announce any results. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner told Mets.com that deGrom, who is throwing off flat ground at his Florida home, is “throwing without pain or issue or anything like that” as he works back for a potential midseason return.
“We’re definitely going to play the long game with him to make sure that we have him for the rest of the season,” Hefner told Mets.com, adding: “The team’s performance, I think he wants to be a part of it. He’s doing extremely well. He’s doing everything he should be doing right now, so all signs are pointing positive.”
The Mets have not given a timetable for a possible deGrom return. He has not stepped on a mound yet in his latest injury rehab.
“Obviously, we want him back as soon as possible,” Hefner told Mets.com. “But you’ve got to really make sure that he’s built up properly, and everyone feels good, he feels good . . . We need to make sure that not only are we doing what’s best for the Mets, trying to win the World Series this year, but also what’s best for the player. When you start talking about bone, it’s a little different than muscle tendons. You don’t want to mess around with bone, especially with a stress reaction in bones. We don’t want to mess around with reinjuring that type of situation, because then he’s done for the year.”
Pedro an ‘Old-Timer’
The Mets announced that Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez has agreed to attend the return of Old-Timer’s Day on Aug. 27.
The Mets have not held an Old-Timer’s Day since 1994. The team expects more than 60 former players and managers to attend, representing all the eras in the club’s 60-year history.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
