Veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco will make his Mets debut in a start against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, more than six months after New York acquired him in a trade, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic.
Carrasco, 34, has been sidelined all season by a torn hamstring he suffered while running sprints in March. Originally, the Mets placed a six-to-eight-week timetable on his recovery. That would've had Carrasco back sometime in late April or early May. Obviously Carrasco required more runway to make a full return. He's recently appeared in three minor-league games as part of his rehab process, posting a 6.75 ERA in 6 2/3 innings.
A hearty and hale Carrasco could be a boon for the Mets, who have been seeking rotation help on the trade market. Last season alone, he compiled a 2.91 ERA (159 ERA+) and a 3.04 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12 starts. Dating back to the 2018 campaign, he's managed a 121 ERA+ and a 4.76 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Those marks include the 2019 season, during which he missed time after being diagnosed with Leukemia.
Carrasco originally joined the Mets in the same January trade with Cleveland that netted the club shortstop Francisco Lindor. The Mets sent the future Guardians four players as part of that arrangement: infielders Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario, outfield prospect Isaiah Greene, and right-handed prospect Josh Wolf.
The Mets entered Wednesday with a 53-46 record on the season, good for a 3 1/2 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. The Mets have been throttled with injuries throughout the season, and are currently without Lindor as well as fellow starting pitchers Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, David Peterson, and Joey Lucchesi. Even the Mets' depth has had trouble staying healthy, with both Robert Stock and Jordan Yamamoto requiring time on the shelf.
