The New York Mets are about to have both of their co-aces in the rotation for the first time this season.
As shared by Danny Abriano of SNY, Mets manager Buck Showalter told reporters before Monday’s traditional doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves that Max Scherzer will make his return to the bump Wednesday at the Detroit Tigers.
Justin Verlander will then make his official Mets debut Thursday afternoon at the Tigers, his MLB club from 2005 through a portion of the 2017 campaign.
Scherzer is finishing the final days of the 10-game suspension he received for violating MLB rules related to the use of foreign substances after he was ejected from a game at the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 19. Both Scherzer and the Mets have repeatedly insisted his hands were “sticky” that afternoon due to only a combination of sweat and league-approved rosin, and multiple MLB insiders have since defended the 38-year-old.
Scherzer originally was set to return Monday against the Braves until Atlanta and New York experienced multiple rainouts over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Verlander signed a two-year, $86.7M contract that includes a vesting third-year option reportedly worth $35M in December but landed on the injured list back on Opening Day with what has been referred to as a low-grade teres major strain (strained shoulder).
The three-time Cy Young Award winner completed 4.2 scoreless innings via 69 pitches in his rehab start with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies this past Friday and indicated at the time that would be the only minor-league appearance he’d need before he faces big-league opposition this month.
Additionally, Carlos Carrasco could return from the IL at some point next week as he works to recover from inflammation in his throwing elbow caused by a bone spur. Unfortunately for the Mets, Jose Quintana (stress fracture in his rib) remains on track to be out through at least the start of July.
Despite all of those pitching issues, the Mets began Monday at 15-12 and trailing the first-place Braves by three games in the National League East standings.
