Morning Briefing: Mets Have Big Pitching Coach Hole to Fill

Good morning, Mets fans! Shea Stadium was the place to be 39 years ago tonight.

After one season with the Mets, assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel is headed crosstown to rejoin the Yankees, where he spent 2022-2024, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The Mets fired pitching coach Jeremy Hefner after the season and granted Druschel permission to speak with other teams while they searched for a new pitching coach. Druschel, 50, will be an assistant to Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake.

Latest Mets News

Mets prospect Chris Suero went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in the Scottsdale Scorpions’ 7-4 victory over the Mesa Solar Sox on Sunday in the Arizona Fall League. RHP Ernesto Mercedes, who struck out 54 in 42 2/3 innings and pitched to a 3.38 ERA for Low-A St. Lucie this year, gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning in his AFL debut. (Box Score)

The Scorpions (11-5) are off Monday. They host the Surprise Saguaros (10-5) at 4:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Latest MLB News

The Orioles are finalizing a deal to hire Craig Albernaz as manager, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Albernaz, 42, was the associate manager for the Guardians this year. He was previously the Giants’ bullpen and catching coach and coached for minor league teams in the Tampa Bay organization.

The World Series resumes Monday with Game 3 in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Toronto starter Max Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts this season, but he threw 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball to earn a win over Seattle in the ALCS. Scherzer is 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 31 career playoff appearances covering 148 2/3 innings.

Scherzer will become the first player to pitch for four teams in the World Series, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Lonnie Smith is the only position player to appear for four teams.

The Dodgers counter with Tyler Glasnow, who was 4-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 18 regular season starts. He’s given up one run in three playoff appearances over 13 1/3 innings. Glasnow is 2-6 with a 4.58 ERA in 59 career postseason innings. The series is tied 1-1.

Toronto manager John Schneider said Bo Bichette will start at second base in Game 3. Bichette saw his first action since injuring his left knee in early September when he started in Game 1 of the World Series, but only pinch-hit in Game 2.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said before Game 2 that MLB remains “vigilant” on policing sports betting after a scandal rocked the NBA last week. The investigations into Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave after a betting integrity firm spotted suspicious bets in June, are ongoing.

Manfred also said MLB players may participate in the Olympic Games scheduled for Los Angeles in July 2028, but logistics and an agreement with the players’ union will have to be worked out.

Latest on MMO

James Villani has a report card on Ronny Mauricio.

Looking ahead, James Villani has a quick look at which Mets will hit free agency over the 2026-2028 seasons.

Eitan Hain has a free agent profile of Dylan Cease. He thinks the Mets should try to sign the 29-year-old right-hander.

On This Date in Mets History

1986: Jesse Orosco tossed his glove to the sky after striking out Marty Barrett to end Game 7 of the World Series. Ray Knight, who hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning and went 9-for-23 in the series, is named World Series MVP.

2015: Alex Gordon‘s solo homer off Jeurys Familia ties World Series Game 1 in the ninth and the Royals walk off the Mets on an Eric Hosmer sacrifice fly off Bartolo Colon in the 14th. Time of game: 5 hours, 9 minutes.

Born on This Date: Ruben Tejada (1989), T.J. Rivera (1988), Pedro Beato (1986), Jon Niese (1986), Tom Nieto (1960), Gil Flores (1952), Pumpsie Green (1933), Ralph Kiner (1922)

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