Max Scherzer was scratched from his spring training start today because of a tweaked hamstring, writes MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. After the news of Jacob deGrom’s injury yesterday, there would be no more devastating update for the Mets than a Scherzer injury, but all accounts say that the injury is not serious.
Scherzer himself would not set a timetable on his return, with a video clip of Scherzer speaking to reporters provided here by Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News. Scherzer would not rule out being ready by opening day, but he would neither commit to it.
Without Scherzer and deGrom, the Mets would turn to Carlos Carrasco, Chris Bassitt, or Taijuan Walker for the opening day start. Tylor Megill is likely to step into the rotation as well, barring a trade or other roster movement over the next few days.
bucsfan0004
Lol Mets
So unlucky
THE downvoter
Not unlucky. Mismanaged.
You cant control all injuries, but that org is a dumpster fire that big tv revenues covera up.
Fever Pitch Guy
Yeah when a team takes a chance on players that have a concerning medical history or are old, it’s on the team because they took that risk. Luck doesn’t have that much to do with it.
Same thing with deGrom, after last season we all knew the chances of his health issues continuing in 2022 were on the high side.
Like the Red Sox giving Sale the extension, that was just plain dumb.
jim stem
Yeah, stupid Mets. The guy has missed like 10 starts 8 years. What were they thinking? No other team will have starters not ready for opening day…
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Not exactly. They throw big money at aging players. This is why you can’t always buy the best and assume to win. Happened to them last year too.
njbirdsfan
Remind us all of the World Series banners that Tampa was able to hang pinching pennies and leeching off revenue sharing.
48-team MLB
Atlanta and Kansas City have both won without enormous payrolls relatively recently.
MarlinsFanBase
@njbirdsfan
The Tampa Bay Rays have won just as many championships as the Mets have over the time of the Rays’ existence. That would be a big whopping 0.
I do credit you for not trying to compare Mets championships to their own division rivals. Smart move.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
@MarlinsFanBase @njbirdsfan not the greatest comparison when you consider the Rays have many more postseason appearances. Mets haven’t even consistently gotten to the postseason or had a winning team like the Rays. Mets play by big money and thats proved to not be so successful recently.
carlos15
The Mets have been maligned for decades for not spending, particularly commensurate to their market, but now they “play by big money”. Maybe this season but when they weren’t spending they were crapped on for that, even though those years gave them a World Series appearance.
jyosuckas
Ever heard anything of the Dodgers? That just sunk your whole argument
Kruk it
Here we go again!!
MarlinsFanBase
Who could’ve guessed this shocking stuff would happen when you invest so much money on players who are 33+ years old?
At least things are different now with Steve Cohen as the owner.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Wasn’t Steve Cohen still heavily involved years ago when the Mets spent money and still failed to deliver a championship?
tidybowlman
Um. No.
jkoko
Yea that’s the word ha
syndergaardshair
Mets are cursed
prov356
Oh boy.
bravesfan0618
Big money for a old timer on a short spring training.
Good luck Mets.
darkstar61
Coming off a postseason dead arm that he lied about the cause of (he pitched more in Sept 2021, not less, yet still blamed the dead arm on what he said was a lack of innings the final month)
Don’t forget that part
kellyoubreisgod
Just Mets things
Cohens_Wallet
LoL.
Robrock30
New Season Same Old Dumpster Fire LOL
fisher40
I wouldn’t mind the Mets as much except for their owner who thinks he’s the second coming of Steinbrenner
afsooner02
Season hasn’t even started yet and the Mets are “Metting”
Ha-Seong Kim
Your new ace chris “the sheriff” paddack will be in queens long before then to save the day. Don’t worry met fans.
Gwynning
“Our” new ace, since we’re Mets fans and all… (wink, wink)
TradeAcuna
Bassitt is an ace apparently and Canha is an MVP. Mets will be fine.
darkstar61
Bassitt has a career 2.44 ERA when pitching in Oakland with that dead air and massive foul territories
He has a career 4.34 ERA pitching everywhere else
Despite fans excitement over him, he is very much a wait and see case with an unknown outcome
MarlinsFanBase
Also, Bassitt is coming into a far tougher division. Let’s see how it works for him.
Jackalopal
Scherzer cut his last mlb appearance short bc of a dead arm in the postseason and no one really talked about it in the offseason.
fred-3
He looked cooked last postseason. A lot of miles on that arm…
RetroBeers
Yep, Scherzer ended the season with a dead arm and deGrom was shut down in July with the UCL but the NY media was acting like they were a stone cold lock to be the next Koufax/Drysdale this season.
You Can Put It In The Books
More like Randy Johnson / Curt Schilling, but point taken.
fisher40
Lol the NY sports media are a bunch of idiots. They need something to talk and write about since both Jersey teams jets and giants in the NFL ain’t doing much and you can only kick the knicks in the head so many times
Noel1982
They will end up needing Chris paddack and they gave up absolutely nothing to get him besides taking on the hose mr contract but it’s a win to subtract dork smith from the team if you ask anyone with a brain !
I’m betting paddack will look better away from the padres ditto for pagan ! The pacers is where all pitchers not named musgrovre go to decline ! Yu and snell the latest examples ! Padres are getting fleeced here when paddack turns into Jason Schmidt and dom smith confuse to be irrelevant
bighiggy
Holy snikes, your autocorrect hates you
baseballguy_128
What in the world did I just read?
Bill M
Kindergarten entrance exam essay
dlw0906
Looks like its Chris Bassett as opening day starter. Old pitchers break down. The Mets should make a deal with Friars for one of their young pitchers.
RunDMC
Unless you’re talking about the untradeable Gore, NYM should hang up. Lamet/Paddack are exactly what NYM does not need. Give a call back to Forst/Beane for Montas/Maneaa whose price just went up with this article.
Sheesh
Mets gonna met
GONEcarlo
Mets gonna Met
Cosmo2
Old pitchers gonna get injured
Digdugler
Poor Jerry Seinfeld
Chief Two Hands
“Poor Pimkus. Poor little Pinkus.”
48-team MLB
New York Mets/Rochester Rabbits new rotation…
Newman
Whatley
Bania
Peterman
Puddy
Pete'sView
Ooof, that hurts!
towinagain
Mets = Padres which is fitting why these two teams should match up in a trade.
JimmyForum
If the Over/Under was 20 starts, I’m taking the under.
48-team MLB
Queens is CURSED. I told you all that they would be much better off as the Rochester Rabbits.
MarlinsFanBase
If they moved to Rochester, it may turn the situation into a sequel to “Gangs of New York” with the likelihood that they would then become the Dead Rabbits.
Cosmo2
This “curse” is the residue of design.
Joeypower
R.A Dickey still available!
Robrock30
Panic City already and the Season hasn’t even started LOL
teddyk
They will need to be cautious with him. 10 day IL him and let the hammy heal. They can’t afford to push him for opening day and risk losing him for months when giving him an extra 10 days can heal it up and let him pitch with piece of mind. Bassitt and Walker are solid, Carasco can’t be counted on for much as he hasn’t looked good in years now. Megill is a spot starter and depth, not a reliable option to take the hill every 5th day. They Need Mad Max healthy and need to trade for a solid #3-4 type starter (no Paddack is not the answer) and hope to stay in contention until they can hopefully get DeGrom back in July. It’s a lot of needs/if’s/etc for a team to address with left than a week until opening day.
pinstripes17
As metsy at it getsy
Lol Trumpets mad
Remember when mutts fans were so happy that sherzer was going 5 innings first start of spring? Yeah dudes a clown. Better blame Dave roberts!
Justplayball@13
I don’t think it is possible to call it a curse if the organization is managed poorly.
bobtillman
Bartollo Colon waiting on line 3. BIG SEXY at CITI!
Highest IQ
And people say the Yankees are the worst when it comes to injuries.
Tacoshells
Just trade for Montas already !!
carlote
get Colon on the phone
RunDMC
If Colon had a cologne, what would it smell like?
Gwynning
“Eau de Beef Tips” by Bartolo Colon
Joe It All
Stale meatloaf
mustang
This is why you can’t buy yourself into a Championship Mr Cohen.
Take it from a Yankees fan it Seldom works.
LarryJ4
Something about the Eastern Part of New York lol. Same ole Mets! Maybe it’s the water over there lol! At this point they need to think outside the box to keep their players healthy! Because whatever they’re doing ISNT WORKING LOL!
Joe It All
At this point you would think they have the workout regimen of Cosmo Kramer and are going for swims in the East River.
whyhayzee
All part of the master plan. Hang onto first place just like last year, then add deGrom and Max and Zoom into the stratosphere for the postseason.
Or not.
User 2079935927
Sherzer is bad signing. This guy is toast.
desertbull
The Amazins’
champoronipizza
How does every player on the Mets get hurt almost immediately?
48-team MLB
It’s a curse. I’ve been saying that they should relocate for years.
Bill M
Hard to believe no one’s listening
48-team MLB
@Bill M
You should be grateful that I’m offering to keep them in the state of New York with the “Rochester Rabbits” proposal.
I have many other relocation proposals for the Mets…
U.S. proposals…
Albuquerque Desert Dogs
Hartford Seals
Omaha Dragons
Wichita Warlocks
International proposals…
Auckland Kiwis
Dublin Dwarves
London Werewolves
Melbourne Pythons
Wowwwwww
Mets gonna Mets. I’m 29 and I can’t remember a time when the Mets weren’t injury prone
Michael Handsman
1986
Keithg813
A’s holding on line one….please pick up Billy Eppler
RetroBeers
I think Eppler is the one sitting on hold. A’s hold all the cards.
You Can Put It In The Books
As a Mets fan, even I can’t help but #LOLmets
VonPurpleHayes
I feel really bad about deGrom, but Scherzer isn’t bad luck…the dude is 38. It was a foolish contract and he’s bound to get hurt now and then. High risk. Very high reward. Either way, never want to see anyone hurt.
48-team MLB
I knew all along that the Phillies would finish second in the division. The Mets will finish fourth.
Braves
Phillies
Marlins
Mets
Nationals
You Can Put It In The Books
@Von
I appreciate and enjoy reading from you on the site. But let’s pump the breaks on calling this a major concern. Yes, Scherzer is old and the contract was stupid. But we’re talking about a mild hamstring issue that likely won’t even result in an IL stint. DeGrom is a different story. Let’s not stick Max in that category just yet.
VonPurpleHayes
@You Can Put It Absolutely true. It may be a start tops. Still at 38, I expect injuries to be the norm.
MarlinsFanBase
How’s it a foolish contract? Only two more years to go at over $40 million after this season is done.
With him, Cano, very likely deGrom won’t opt out now, and Lindor possibly not adjusting to being in a tougher division, seems like Cohen has truly changed the Mets.
On a positive note, I’d like to congratulate Starling Marte on getting the extra year he was seeking…and the high AAV was a bonus.
pirateking24
So …. is this a teachable moment for the Mets?
AgeeHarrelsonJones
No
SupremeZeus
Mets should just ride it out and see how the dust settles. Across the league many more players are going to go down in the first month as a result of no offseason contact with training staffs and a short ST. I would keep my powder dry and avoid desperate moves. Scherzer will be back soon.
MarlinsFanBase
Still another great prediction by Family Guy: youtube.com/watch?v=okXhAC78d4Q
MarlinsFanBase
Knock knock…
Mets: Who’s there?
Voice: Father Time.
Mets: We told you to go away!
Voice: No. You can’t avoid me. Is the guest room prepared for me? I may be sticking around for awhile because a lot of guys around here are eligible to meet me this year.
jsaldi
You never have to much pitching
BuyBuyMets
The Mets just can’t win.
What next, Lindor paralyzed in a hang gliding mishap?
Bill M
One can hope
fisher40
Lol I hope the Mets really struggle this season. The reason, their owner is such an ass clown
getrealgone2
It’s just kinda sad for the Mets at this point.
oldmanblue
LOL,LOL,LOL
fox471 Dave
Scherzer definitely marches to a different drum. The next thing you will here is a rumor that he disagrees with management, on their coaching methods. Guaranteed he will be out longer than a few weeks.
Sunday Lasagna
The negativity that comes out when something happens to the Mets is startling. The Mets are 0-0 just like every other team in baseball. Winning teams have a “next man up” mentality. Injuries do not slow them down. Did the Braves pack it in when their Ace, #`6 in the Cy `voting `Mike Soroka was lost for the season? Did they give up when #6 in the MVP voting slugger Marcell Ozuna was suspended? How about when phenom Ronald Acuna was injured and out for the season, was that it? All done? No, next man up, any team can win with or without deGrom and Scherzer. Just like the Braves won without Soroka, Ozuna and Acuna. I’m not saying the Mets are going to win anything, but they can. .
dr. remulak
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Milwaukee-2208
Must have missed that day in school when the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor. Please tell us more
darkstar61
I’m guessing it has something to do with those Revolutionary War air fields we’ve heard about?
Cosmo2
I do believe it was a movie reference
Luke Strong
Even though this injury is a hamstring allegedly, Scherzer’s arm is shot. If I had an option to bet over/under on innings he will pitch this season and the number was 100, I’d take under.
Rsox
Is it safe to say God is not a Mets fan?
48-team MLB
May I offer another theory? The Mets only win World Series against cities that start with “B.” They beat Baltimore in 1969 and they beat Boston in 1986. It’s clear that they can’t beat the same team twice though. Their only chance now is if a new team is added in one of Buffalo/Brooklyn/Birmingham/Baton Rouge.
ChuckyNJ
Nothing could be more LOLMets than the prospect of their doing a bullpen game on Opening Day.
drfelix
♂️♂️ Mets luck just continues its like another curse of the Bambino lol
Cosmo2
It’s been said many times here already but, a lot of us saw this coming. Jacob’s arm, Scherzer’s age… I’m not surprised at all. It’s not luck. It’s to be expected with the plan they had.
ArianaGrandSlam
Scherzer maxed out!
dclivejazz
This is a shame but Scherzer has a history of durability and quick recoveries.
Milwaukee-2208
Is anyone really shocked? Scherzer is a great pitcher but he’s 38 years old and the Mets knew that. Going into spring, your whole season stood on the shoulders of Degrom coming off an injury plagued 2021, and Scherzer who had a dead arm in the playoffs and had to sit. Mets should have passed on max and traded for Castillo instead. Hope max and Jacob are back soon, because they are fun to watch, but everyone saw this scenario coming a mile away
AmericanRedneck
PSA: Sleeping on this iteration of the Mets isn’t a good idea. Not a Mets fan but they’re set to have a monster year.
darkstar61
Or they’ll just as easily be a laughingstock
Based off the history of the injury, deGrom will be out at least 2.5+ months, may not pitch again this year, and will quite possibly have an ERA in the high-4/low-5 if he does come back based off those who have returned in a reasonable amount of time
Scherzer is a complete unknown because of age, limited Spring Training, recent dead arm, current hamstring, and even the fact he has a career 3.50+ ERA when having to face a DH (3.74 the last time he faced a DH, during the 2020 season)
Bassitt has the question of if he can pitch away from Oakland (career 2.44 ERA there, 4.34 everywhere else)
Walker has the question of if he can pitch without stickum (2.35 ERA, 2.67 FIP pre sticky ban, 6.25 ERA, 6.17 FIP after …some say this is heavily influenced by fatigue, but that too isn’t exactly comforting for 2022)
Carrasco is just a question if he can even pitch anymore
And as far as the lineup, they signed a bunch of 33 year old guys based off what they did in one or two seasons the last 7 years, despite them overall being pretty average and unspectacular. Alonso and Nimmo (possibly Lindor if you feel the last 2.5 seasons were all fluke) are still the only 2 that are likely to easily have an OPS+ over 110, Alonso and Lindor the only with WAR projections putting them outside of average and into star territory.
Which yes, a very average across the board lineup can be a winning team. But it would most likely take pitching to get there and their pitching is nothing but those major questions
So who knows. It might click, it might be even worse than last season when they at least had a ton of great starts. We’ll have to wait and see
VonPurpleHayes
@Don Daddy I wouldn’t be shocked, but I think a reason the Mets get a lot of hate is because they’re often predicted to dominate and very rarely do. Going back the last 3 years, multiple experts had them dethroning the Braves for some reason…they didn’t even get 2nd place last year. 2007 everyone thought the Mets and Johan Santana were going to run away with the division…nope. 2008, the same story. It gets tiring to hear how great the Mets are every year without them really earning anything. Now I agree: Mets look good on paper, but I just can’t believe the disrespect the Braves get. How many times do they need to win the division to get some credit?