Manager Buck Showalter said Monday that deGrom is in line to start the Mets' Opening Day game April 7 in Washington, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

That deGrom was awarded the Opening Day nod is less of a surprise than the fact that the Mets confirmed after his first bullpen session of spring training that he would be ready to go for the start of the season, coming off a 2021 campaign in which he was shut down after the All-Star break following a series of forearm/elbow-related setbacks, including a diagnosis of a partially torn UCL. The extended time off during the second half of last season and the offseason has apparently allowed the ligament to heal, but that doesn't necessarily mean deGrom is a good bet to stay healthy for the balance of 2022. That being said, deGrom should profile as baseball's best pitcher whenever he's available, as he was a shoo-in for his third Cy Young Award through 15 starts last season until injuries thwarted those plans.