Mets Get Good News on Scherzer, deGrom; Fall to Astros

While it wasn’t a great afternoon for the New York Mets on the field, who were swept by the Houston Astros 2-0 in a game where Justin Verlander stymied the Mets on just two hits over eight innings, the Amazin’s got some encouraging news regarding their two aces.

Jacob deGrom threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, and according to manager Buck Schowalter, the two-time Cy Young Award winner could begin rehab outings soon if he feels well by “tomorrow,” as the Mets hope to get deGrom back on a normal schedule.

Meanwhile, Max Scherzer made his second rehab start for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and was in tip-top form, tossing 4.2 innings on 80 pitches. When asked by reporters if he felt he needed more rehab time, Scherzer emphatically said, “no.”

That is huge news for the Mets who see the Atlanta Braves creeping up in their rear-view mirror. As the Mets have been mired in recent struggles of late, the Braves have trimmed the Mets’ lead in the NL East down to three games. Atlanta had trailed by 10 games at one point in May.

If the Mets can get both starters back in the month of July — perhaps late July for deGrom — they have a chance to get this ship back on track.

GALLERY: Major League Baseball Teams Across The U.S.

• New York Yankees

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  NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 03: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates after hitting a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 at Yankee Stadium on October 03, 2021 in New York City.

• New York Mets

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  PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 27: Max Scherzer #21 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the Spring Training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park on March 27, 2022 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

• Philadelphia Phillies

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  DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - APRIL 02: Cristopher Sanchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch to the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning during a Grapefruit League spring training game at TD Ballpark on April 02, 2022 in Dunedin, Florida.
• Washington Nationals

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  WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals celebrates as he walks back to the dug out after the last out with bases loaded in the seventh inning of game four of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park on October 07, 2019 in Washington, DC.

• Atlanta Braves

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  HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 06: Travis d'Arnaud #16 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three run homerun during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins in Game One of the National League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 06, 2020 in Houston, Texas.

• Miami Marlins

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  MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: Nick Fortes #84 of the Miami Marlins is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at loanDepot park on October 03, 2021 in Miami, Florida.
• Chicago Cubs

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  MESA, ARIZONA - APRIL 02: Jason Heyward #22 of the Chicago Cubs watches from the dugout during the first inning of the MLB spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Sloan Park on April 02, 2022 in Mesa, Arizona.

• Cincinnati Reds

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  GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 22: Vladimir Gutierrez #53 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a first inning pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on March 22, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.

• Milwaukee Brewers

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  PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 26: Adrian Houser #37 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a first inning pitch against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 26, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Pittsburgh Pirates

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  PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Ke'Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Gregory Polanco #25 after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on September 23, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• St. Louis Cardinals

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  PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 27: Dylan Carlson #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals scores during the third inning of the Spring Training game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 27, 2022 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

• Arizona Diamondbacks

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  PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 23: Jake McCarthy #30 of the Arizona Diamondbacks high fives Josh Rojas #10 after scoring in the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field on September 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Colorado Rockies

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  CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 02: Charlie Blackmon #19 celebrates with Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies after scoring a run in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during the National League Wild Card Game at Wrigley Field on October 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.

• San Diego Padres

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  PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 23: Jorge Alfaro #38 of the San Diego Padres prepares to bat against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of the MLB spring training game at Peoria Stadium on March 23, 2022 in Peoria, Arizona.

• Los Angeles Dodgers

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  SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 31: (L-R) Infielders Hanser Alberto #17, Justin Turner #10, Trea Turner #6 and Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the field during a pitching change in the fourth inning of the MLB spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on March 31, 2022 in Surprise, Arizona.
• Boston Red Sox

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  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his game winning sacrifice fly with teammates in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts.

• Baltimore Orioles

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  BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Ryan Mountcastle #6 celebrates with Tyler Nevin #41 of the Baltimore Orioles after hitting a three RBI home run against the Boston Red Sox in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland.

• San Francisco Giants

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  SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 14: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after striking out Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top of the seventh inning in game 5 of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park on October 14, 2021 in San Francisco, California.
• Tampa Bay Rays

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  BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 13: Hunter Renfroe #11 celebrates with teammate Willy Adames #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays after hitting a two run home run in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 13, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts.

• Chicago White Sox

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  CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 10: Liam Hendriks #31 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after a win over the Houston Astros in game 3 of the American League Division Series at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.

• Cleveland Indians

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  CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Greg Allen #53 of the Cleveland Indians dives back to first base during the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on September 28, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Twins 5-2.
• Toronto Blue Jays

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  ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 13: Marcus Semien #10 and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #13 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate their 8-4 win over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 13, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Detroit Tigers

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  CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 01: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers reacts to a call during the fourth inning in the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 01, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.

• Kansas City Royals

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  KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 15: Hanser Alberto #49 of the Kansas City Royals reacts after hitting a 2-RBI single during the 4th inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium on September 15, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Minnesota Twins

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  MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 26: Michael Pineda #35 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of the game at Target Field on July 26, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

• Houston Astros

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  ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros hits an RBI double against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning in Game Five of the World Series at Truist Park on October 31, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Los Angeles Angels

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  ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates with Max Stassi #33 of the Los Angeles Angels after scoring on a RBI single hit by Brandon Marsh #16 of the Los Angeles Angels against the Texas Rangers in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Field on September 30, 2021 in Arlington, Texas.
• Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners

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  SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: Tony Kemp #5 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates his solo home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 29, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.

• Seattle Mariners

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  SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 02: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners takes the field before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on October 02, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.

• Texas Rangers

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  SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 31: Adolis Garcia #53 of the Texas Rangers high fives Nathaniel Lowe #30 after Lowe hit a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning of the MLB spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 31, 2022 in Surprise, Arizona.