Shaun Marcum On Track To Make Mets Debut Against Phillies
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Shaun Marcum pitched five scoreless innings in an extended spring training game Monday, putting him in line to make his New York Mets debut Saturday against Philadelphia.
On the disabled list all season with a sore neck and biceps, Marcum threw 52 pitches in the game and then more in the bullpen, the team said. He allowed three hits, struck out four and did not walk a batter in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Mets manager Terry Collins said Sunday that if Marcum came through the outing OK he would likely be penciled in to start Saturday against the Phillies. The right-hander signed a $4 million, one-year contract with New York in the offseason after spending the previous two years with Milwaukee.
"It'll be treated like it's his first start," said Collins. "Ninety to 95 pitches will be the maximum. But the kind of pitcher he is, you look up and with 90 pitches he'll be in the seventh inning."
In other news Monday, the Mets signed right-hander D.J. Mitchell to a minor league contract. He will report to extended spring training.
The 25-year-old Mitchell made one start for Triple-A Tacoma before the Seattle Mariners designated him for assignment April 11.
Mitchell made four relief appearances for the New York Yankees in 2012, posting a 3.86 ERA in 4 2-3 innings. He was acquired by Seattle as part of the trade that sent Ichiro Suzuki to New York last season.
A 10th-round draft pick by the Yankees in 2008, Mitchell is 47-26 with a 3.53 ERA in 103 minor league games, including 96 starts. He will report to the Mets' facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Can the Mets count on Marcum to stay healthy? Be heard in the comments...
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