DETROIT — Comerica Park was where it all started for Justin Verlander 18 years ago.
Thursday, it will be the site of another start for the veteran ace: The start of his Mets career.
Verlander, the Mets’ marquee offseason acquisition, is set to come off the injured list Thursday against the Detroit Tigers to make his first start of the 2023 season more than a month after it began. He’s been out with a teres major strain since Opening Day and he’s been eager to make an impact on his new team and show the fans what he can do.
“It’s funny how baseball works,” Verlander said Tuesday. “I wouldn’t like to start the year on the IL at all, but baseball always tends to have some funny stories and connections. Here I am, my first start as a Met in Detroit.”
It’s almost like it’s 2012 again with Verlander pitching in the same rotation as Max Scherzer. But one look at the Tigers record and you remember that illustrious era has passed. Scherzer and Verlander are in the visitor’s locker room instead of the one they used to occupy, trying to start an illustrious era for the Mets.
Nothing has come easy for the Mets this season but having their two aces back in the rotation could be exactly what the Mets need. Mets’ starters have had a tough time going deep into games this season and the team is hoping that changes this week. The Mets are playing their second doubleheader in three days Wednesday in Detroit, which makes things difficult on the bullpen.
The relief corps might have had a day off Tuesday, but if the manager burns too many of them Wednesday then the rest of the week could be a problem.
“Try not to use all your bullets one game,” manager Buck Showalter said. “then also there’s another game to win you know, out there but when push comes to shove, you can try to win that game and worry about the next game. But with the bullpen pieces just try not to over overuse them.”
Verlander threw 69 pitches in his only rehab outing which was the goal. He won’t be in midseason form when he takes the mound Thursday but having already built up to 60-70 pitches he’s optimistic that he can give the team a quality start.
“I can’t come up here and expect to like throw 70 pitches,” Verlander said. “That’s not fair for the team, it’s not fair for the bullpen. You have one bad inning all of the sudden, you’re only throwing three or four innings and everybody else has to pick up the pieces.”
Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (bone spur in elbow) will throw a rehab start either Friday or Saturday and the location will be determined by the weather. Carrasco has been “under the weather,” according to the Mets, so his rehab assignment will come when he’s feeling better. The club remains optimistic that he can return to the rotation next week.
Jose Butto will be the 27th man for the Mets in both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader. The right-handed spot-starter was the 27th man for the club Monday in the second game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.
Per MLB rules, teams have to mutually agree to use a 27th man for both games of a doubleheader. If one team declines, then an extra man is only used in the second game of the set.
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