Christian Scott is making progress.
Working his way back from a UCL sprain, the rookie Mets right-hander has resumed throwing from flat ground, which he continued to do Tuesday before the series opener against the Oakland A’s at Citi Field.
Scott said he made about 50 throws Tuesday, ramping up to 75 feet after throwing from about 60 feet his first time out. He hopes to throw from 90 feet on Wednesday.
“Hopefully work in offspeed pitches coming up pretty soon here, and then off the mound after that obviously,” Scott told reporters. “Just taking it day by day. Don’t have the exact timeframe of games, bullpen, mounds, anything like that, but felt good today. I’ll throw tomorrow and I’ll see how it feels then.”
Scott, 25, said he wants to return in time to be part of the Mets’ playoff push. Manager Carlos Mendoza added, “Hopefully that’s the case.
“He’s just got to continue to stretch out, get all the way to 120 [feet], throwing intensity, some flat ground [work], so we’re still a few days, weeks away before he gets on the mound,” Mendoza said. “But he’s throwing and feeling good.”
Scott began the season as the Mets’ top pitching prospect and made his MLB debut in May. He went 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 47.1 innings through nine starts before going on the 15-day injured list on July 23 with the right elbow injury.
The right-hander has said he dealt with a similar injury last year as a minor leaguer. He primarily pitched on extra rest with the Mets this season.
“Injuries suck, for sure, but at the same time there’s not really much you can do about it,” Scott said. “Just going out and attacking the day. You can be sad and sulky all you want about it, but at the same time, nobody really cares about that. It’s just about going out and trying to feel better and putting your body in the best position you possibly can.”
Scott went on the IL three days before the Mets lost ace Kodai Senga to a high-grade calf strain that’s expected to end his regular season. Before last month’s trade deadline, the Mets acquired starter Paul Blackburn from the A’s to help their beleaguered staff.
Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana and David Peterson round out the Mets’ current rotation.
MARTE MOVE
Starling Marte’s rehab took him to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday night as he continues to near a Mets return.
Tuesday marked the fourth rehab game for Marte, who has been sidelined since June 22 with a bone bruise in his right knee. He was in right field and batting second. His previous three games took place with Low-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton.
Marte, 35, is not expected to play Wednesday because Syracuse has a day game, but he is in line to play back-to-back games before rejoining the Mets.
“[We’ll] see where we’re at by the weekend,” Mendoza said.
ON THE MARK
Mark Vientos was out of the Mets’ starting lineup Tuesday due to a sore left ankle but could be back in there Wednesday, Mendoza said.
The Mets wanted to see Vientos go through his pregame routine, according to the manager, who said the third baseman could be an option off of the bench Tuesday.
“He’s feeling good,” Mendoza said. “He actually wanted to be in the lineup.”
The Mets scratched Vientos before Sunday’s series finale in Seattle.
