NEW YORK -- Mets aces Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer took their next steps Wednesday toward returning to New York's rotation.
DeGrom, sidelined since last July 7, threw 27 pitches to hitters in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and could progress to a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment.
"We'll see how he feels tomorrow," Mets manager Buck Showalter said after watching on video from Citi Field. "Tomorrow, if he feels well, we'll probably be able to talk about that next step."
A two-time Cy Young Award winner, the 34-year-old right-hander missed the second half of last season because of right forearm tightness.