New York Mets Decide on When Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander Will Pitch

The Mets have made a decision on when Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander will return.

Pat Ragazzo | May 1, 2023

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New York Mets

NEW YORK - It has been decided.

The Mets have made a decision on when Max Scherzer will return and Justin Verlander will debut.

According to manager Buck Showalter, Scherzer will pitch Wednesday in Detroit against the Tigers. Scherzer will be eligible to return from his 10-game suspension for using sticky substances in a game against the Dodgers.

After Scherzer, Verlander will start on Thursday in Detroit in what will be his Mets debut. Verlander made a rehab start on Friday for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and went 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball.

Verlander has been on the IL since Opening Day due to a teres major strain.

Beyond this duo of aces, Joey Lucchesi will start Game 1 in Detroit on Tuesday. Showalter has been impressed with Lucchesi, who threw seven shutout innings against the Giants and hurled another solid performance against the Nationals.

Kodai Senga will start on Friday at Citi Field against the Colorado Rockies. This will be nine days after his last outing, as the Mets are trying to use the schedule to give Senga extra rest since he only used to pitch once a week in Japan.

Carlos Carrasco (elbow) threw on Monday at Citi Field and Showalter says he is likely to rejoin the rotation next week.

The Mets optioned David Peterson to Triple-A Syracuse over the weekend, and Showalter had a message for him while he is in the minors: “Pitch better.”

Through six starts, Peterson has a 7.34 ERA and his slider has been ineffective.

“There are a couple things we identified that are different than last year that he has to get back to,” Showalter said. “He’s 27 years old. He knows he needs to start grasping some of these things. He does. He will.”

- Mets Place Brooks Raley on IL, Demote David Peterson

- Justin Verlander Passes big Test in Rehab Start

- Mets Need Starling Marte to Heat Up

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Published May 1, 2023

PAT RAGAZZO

Pat Ragazzo is the reporter, publisher, site manager and executive editor for Sports Illustrated's Mets and Yankees On SI websites. Pat was selected as The Top Reporter & Publisher of the Year 2024 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. He has been seen on several major TV Network stations including: NBC4, CBS2, FOX5, PIX11 and NY1; and is frequently heard on ESPN New York FM 880 AM and WFAN Sports Radio 101.9 FM as a guest. Pat also serves as the Mets insider for the "Allow Me 2 Be Frank" podcast hosted by Frank "The Tank" Fleming of Barstool Sports. You can follow him on Twitter/X: @ragazzoreport.

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