The road-weary Mets returned residence to an indication of hope: Christian Scott is throwing once more.
The righty was on the outfield grass throwing for a second time since being recognized with a sprained UCL about three weeks in the past.
Scott initially had thrown Sunday, a big first step for a pitcher who’s hoping his two weeks with out touching a baseball could have allowed his elbow time to recuperate.
Scott, who threw from 75 ft Tuesday, is envisioning a best-case state of affairs wherein he not solely returns to full well being however returns to a crew that might use a lift to the pitching workers in September.
“This crew is making a push to the playoffs,” Scott stated earlier than the Mets opened a sequence in opposition to the A’s at Citi Discipline. “Hopefully I could be part of that.”
The primary hurdle Scott should overcome is an elbow that has grown sore late within the season for a second straight yr.
In 2023, Scott missed about 2 ½ weeks in August and September whereas with Double-A Binghamton, however relaxation allowed the elbow to bounce again.
Scott and the Mets hope to have the identical consequence this yr, but when discomfort pops up throughout his build-up, surgical procedure is a nagging chance to repair UCL sprains.
“I really feel good total proper now,” stated Scott, who felt elbow soreness after his begin July 21. “I’m simply attacking on daily basis so I can go and assist this crew within the playoffs and late within the season. … But additionally being sensible and taking it daily.”
There are numerous extra steps to climb for Scott, who must stretch out to 120 ft from flat floor earlier than graduating to a mound, start mixing in offspeed pitches and ultimately beginning a rehab project.
Supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated Scott is “nonetheless a couple of weeks away” from mound work.
Scott didn’t need to connect a timetable to when he may pitch within the majors once more.
An August return just isn’t possible, however there may be time for the 25-year-old to assist in the season’s ultimate month and maybe within the postseason.
“Hopefully that’s the case,” Mendoza stated.
A high prospect who has pitched to middling ends in his first style of the majors, Scott was introduced up in Might because the group’s finest minor league arm.
He typically has flashed wonderful stuff that induces loads of swings and misses, however he was tagged for eight residence runs in 9 begins and a 4.56 ERA.
There may be extra room for Scott to develop, which might be key for a rotation whose ceiling has dropped since Kodai Senga suffered a devastating calf pressure.
Presuming Scott makes all of it the way in which again, one other hurdle could be the place he suits. He basically has been changed by deadline addition Paul Blackburn in a rotation that has vital questions: Sean Manaea couldn’t discover the strike zone in Seattle on Saturday; Luis Severino has struggled lately as his workload has piled up, reaching “a territory the place he hasn’t been within the final 5 years, innings-wise,” Mendoza stated; Jose Quintana has begun to slide after a powerful July; and David Peterson has been stable however has pitched six innings in simply 5 of his 12 begins.
Would Scott be a sixth starter? Exchange a back-end arm who wouldn’t begin a postseason recreation anyway? Would Scott be an intriguing, multi-inning arm out of the bullpen, which might serve to preserve his innings whole and allow him to return from the injured checklist sooner?
The Mets and Scott would like to be able to reply these questions subsequent month.
“It’s good that he’s throwing the baseball,” Mendoza stated. “We simply obtained to attend and see how he continues to progress.”
— Further reporting by Bridget Reilly
