Photo by Ed Delany of Mets Minors
New York Mets co-ace Justin Verlander is scheduled to make a rehabilitation start for Double-A Binghamton in their Friday game against the Akron RubberDucks. The game was initially supposed to be an evening game, but with impending bad weather, Binghamton moved the game up to a 1:00 P.M. start to ensure the game gets played.
As noted by Erie Seawolves play-by-play announcer and MMO alum Sam Lebowitz, the last time Verlander pitched in Binghamton was in 2005 as a prospect for the Detroit Tigers. Verlander pitched seven shut-out innings with Joe Hietpas, the Mets version of Moonlight Graham, recording two of the four hits against Verlander.
Verlander has missed the first month of the season with a right teres major strain. At the time of the injury, he said he could pitch through it if it was the postseason. Now, he says he is 99% healed and ready to pitch again.
Mets manager Buck Showalter indicated this could be Verlander’s one and only rehab start. Depending on how this start goes, he could be activated from the IL when it is his turn in the rotation.
When Verlander is activated, the Mets will have to send one of their starters back down to Triple-A or to the bullpen. At the moment, it does seem as if José Butto would be the obvious choice to send down to Triple-A.
Showalter has also noted Max Scherzer appears healthy enough to return to the rotation once his suspension has ended. When Scherzer returns, the Mets will have to make a decision on what to do with Joey Lucchesi, Tylor Megill, and David Peterson.
While Peterson won a spot in the rotation in spring training, he has struggled in the rotation. Megill has struggled in each of his last two starts. Lucchesi has been a pleasant surprise and has given the Mets reason to keep him in the rotation.
Megill and Peterson were in the bullpen at different times last season, and they could move there. To some degree, they could be the potential replacement for Trevor Williams. The Mets could also opt to send them back down to Triple-A. In either event, it seems each pitcher is going to get one more start to prove they belong in the majors.
