The New York Mets entered play Wednesday night with a National League-best 41 wins, having played so well that even though the Atlanta Braves have won 13 games in a row, Buck Schowalter's squad still has a five-game lead in the NL East.
Just imagine what they'll look like if they get two of the most gifted starters in MLB history back.
Max Scherzer continues to work his way back from an oblique injury that has sidelined him since mid-May. Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports offered an update Wednesday on Jacob deGrom, who has yet to pitch this season because of a stress reaction in his right scapula.
"He is scheduled to throw his fifth bullpen session on Friday. This one will be of the up-down variety, so he can simulate breaks between innings. After that, he'll need to make several rehab starts and we'll see where it goes.
"So for deGrom, we're looking at July."
Set to turn 34 next week, deGrom is a two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, former NL Rookie of the Year and a four-time All-Star. This past offseason, we ranked him as the fifth-best player in the history of the Mets.
However, injuries have halted what should have been the back-half deGrom's prime. In 2021, deGrom went 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA, 1.24 FIP and 4.9 fWAR, but was limited just just 92 innings over 15 starts. Had deGrom stayed healthy, he likely would have won his third NL Cy Young Award, and perhaps the NL MVP.
It would be best for the Mets if deGrom is able to return and help them chase their first World Series title since 1986. Frankly, it would be best for the sport if someone with one of the greatest repertoires that baseball has ever seen can return and stay consistently healthy moving forward.
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