ST. LOUIS — When Jacob deGrom took the field early Friday afternoon, his Mets teammates stopped and applauded him. After having watched his electric three-strikeout inning in the All-Star game, they felt proud, the way parents might when their children ventured out and flourished.
Now, over their next 10 games, the rest of the Mets’ rotation will have a chance to do the same. They open the second half against the Cardinals, the Nationals and the Dodgers — all first-place teams.
“Guys who are scared won’t be here long,” Manager Terry Collins said.