PORT ST. LUCIE – Carlos Carrasco was on track to start the season in the Mets rotation until he wasn’t.
Just hours after the righthanded threw 20 pitches on Thursday in a simulated game and manager Luis Rojas expressed confidence that Carrasco could be ready for his first start of the regular season, the Mets announced that the veteran pitcher would have an MRI exam underwent for a sprained right hamstring. sustained during sprints after his throwing session.
Carrasco suffered a high-quality tear that will likely take him six to eight weeks on the injured list, according to a source.
The setback opens the door for two of three under David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi and Jordan Yamamoto to join the starting rotation.
“We’ve talked about the depth when it comes down to it, we always praise the work done by our front office,” said Rojas after the Mets lost 3-1 to the Nationals in a Grapefruit League match at Clover Park.
Carrasco, who turns 34 this weekend, was behind schedule in throwing after suffering from his elbow last week and having to stop. He began training late this spring to receive additional medical evaluation, as a leukemia survivor.
Rojas was unaware of the hamstring injury when he spoke to reporters before the Mets faced the Nationals. The manager had indicated that he was watching Carrasco throw 35-40 throws in his next session and still have enough time to prepare for his first start.
“It’s awful to see how hard Carrasco is working, and of course I think we need him in the rotation to become elite,” said Marcus Stroman. “I hope he continues with this and that we can get him back quite early. Even if he doesn’t, he won’t make it to opening day [roster]I think it’s more important to emphasize health and make sure he’s good for those starts afterward. “
Stroman said he is very confident about the Mets’ rotational depth.
“I definitely think if there’s a team that can take a few starts, I think it’s us,” said Stroman.[But] of course we are waiting for Carrasco to come back as he is a huge plus for our staff. “
Lucchesi and Yamamoto, who arrived off-season, were the most impressive of the starting pitchers competing for a job. There is one vacancy because Noah Syndergaard’s rehab from Tommy John surgery won’t be ready until June. Carrasco’s injury leaves a second gap, behind Jacob deGrom, Stroman and Taijuan Walker.
“We’ve got quite a bit of depth, but not only that, but having a guy like Jake like Marcus and Peterson and guys also have experience starting competitions over the years gives us relief when something like this can happen”, said Rojas.
Jerad Eickhoff, Corey Oswalt and Mike Montgomery are other pitchers in the camp with starting experience in the Major League. Signed to a minor league contract, Montgomery has been working out of the bullpen this spring, but Rojas said the lefty might be stretched out to start.
“He’s one of those hybrid guys who’ve done both,” said Rojas. And as he pitched recently, he looked good. You can see a guy going through the lineup with that stuff a few times. We’re working on stretching it, being multi-inning and always from there you can have a plan. “