The Mets entered the 2022 MLB season excited about the possibility of Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom pitching on back-to-back nights. The team finally got to see that plan come to fruition on Tuesday.
DeGrom made his first start of the season for the Mets after missing the team's previous 102 games due to a stress reaction in his right shoulder. He had missed the latter half of the 2021 season due to an elbow injury, so his start Tuesday was his first in nearly 13 months.
The Mets were unable to give deGrom run support and ultimately lost to the Nationals 5-1 after the bullpen surrendered four runs in four innings. Still, the 34-year-old ace was happy with how his return from injury.
"Felt good," deGrom said of his start, per ESPN. "Definitely had some nerves early on. But like I said, it's been a year-plus since I've been out there, so it was definitely exciting. Wish for a different outcome, but definitely happy to be back out there."
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DeGrom pitched five innings for the Mets, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out six batters and on just 59 pitches. All but one of the Nationals' batters struck out swinging, and their manager Davey Martinez was complimentary of deGrom's pitching after the contest.
"His fastball was over 100, and his slider is nasty," Martinez said. "I know that he's still trying to build up, but his stuff was really good."
DeGrom threw 31 fastballs on Tuesday and they averaged 99.7 mph. Thirteen of those pitches reached triple digits with his maximum velocity topping out at 101.7 mph.
"Whenever you're pitching normally, you're nervous kind of leading up to it," he said. "But once you get out there, you settle in."
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Despite his strong performance, deGrom was hoping for a bigger test from the Nationals. Notably, he admitted that he wanted to face Juan Soto, who was traded from the Nationals to the Padres ahead of the trade deadline earlier in the day.
"I was actually looking forward to facing him," deGrom said of Soto. "I want to face the best, and he's one of the best hitters in the game."
DeGrom won't have a chance to do that unless the Mets and Padres meet in the 2022 NFL postseason. The season series between the two teams has already concluded with San Diego winning it 4-2.
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But deGrom isn't looking that far ahead at this point. He is focused on pitching longer and setting a routine for the rest of the regular season.
First up will be preparing himself to face the Braves during the NL East rivals' upcoming five-game series; deGrom believes that he will be ready to take another step forward and play in that series.
"I'm going to prepare as normal," deGrom said. "I felt really good. So I will go through my in-between routine, stick with the plan and run out there every fifth day."
