Mets manager Luis Rojas gave an update on Carlos Carrasco prior to Monday's game against the Phillies, and it appears the veteran starter could be making his debut in the near future.
Rojas said Carrasco has increased his pitch count and will throw four innings in his next session as he continues to work his way back from a torn hamstring that he suffered during spring training.
"He's going to throw four innings now," Rojas said. "That's his next one. We're thinking of him coming to the alternate site soon to start throwing some simulated games there."
Carrasco, 34, was shut down early in spring with elbow soreness and had just begun throwing again when he tore his hamstring during a conditioning drill, and injury that was estimated to sideline him for six to eight weeks. But now, nearly five weeks out since the injury, Carrasco could find himself closer to the six-week mark rather than eight.
"He's doing BP, covering his positon, he's swinging…so he's progressing on all the other things he has to do, even outside of pitching and facing batters," Rojas said. "He's doing really good right now."
Carrasco will head to the alternate site in Brooklyn and continue his rehab, but Rojas isn't ready to consider his return imminent.
"He's going to go to five innings his next outing, and we'll keep seeing," Rojas said. "It's a week-to-week approach. We have to see how his running is, because it's a hamstring injury…we want to make sure we test that. But he's in a good position right now."
Fellow rotation mate Marcus Stroman isn't injured, but his start was cut short after throwing just nine pitches on Sunday before the series finale against the Marlins was suspended due to rain. Stroman criticized the league's decision to start the game given the weather, and despite the low pitch count, he told Rojas that he prefers to stay on his usual routine, and won't pitch again until his next turn in the rotation.
"Five days," Rojas said. "Friday he'll be back. We talked to him and he wants to do his in-between start routine again and come back Friday. We're TBA for Wednesday right now."
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