Jacob deGrom’s scheduled start for Tuesday will moved back as the New York Mets continue to rest their starting rotation.
After making his first All-Star team in July, deGrom has been up and down as a starter. In his last start, the 27-year-old allowed six runs to the Miami Marlins last Tuesday. The Mets have publicly acknowledged that they would rest their starting pitchers down the final stretch. Matt Harvey has missed a few starts, and now it’s deGrom’s turn to be skipped.
Jacob deGrom will get pushed back. Won't start Tuesday. Mets think extra rest will help him going into postseason.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) September 19, 2015
Even though he doesn’t want to skip a start, deGrom understands what the coaching staff is trying to do with a six-game cushion in the NL East.
"I don't know if I necessarily need it, but it can't hurt," deGrom told ESPN.com about getting skipped on Tuesday. "I don't think it can hurt. That's what they chose to do. So that's what we're going to do."
Logan Verrett will once again be called upon as a spot-starter in place of deGrom. The right-hander has delivered when the Mets take him out of the bullpen and let him start. Last Monday, he allowed one run over five innings in a no-decision in place of Harvey. When he replaced Harvey in August, he allowed one run over eight innings in Colorado for the win.