The struggling Mets got yet another dose of optimism on Sunday when Jacob deGrom, the team’s co-ace who has been sidelined all season, struck out five of the six batters he faced in a rehab start for Class A St. Lucie.
Eighteen of deGrom’s 24 pitches went for strikes, with his fastball topping 100 miles an hour. He hit the only batter he didn’t strike out.
Combine that progress with Max Scherzer’s expected return from the injured list this week and the Mets’ pitching staff may finally become what General Manager Billy Eppler envisioned this off-season. The team will need all the help it can get given how poorly its offense has been performing in recent weeks.