METS
DeGrom surgery set
NEW YORK -- Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the ulnar nerve in his right elbow later this week.
The starter had felt numbness in two of his fingers before being shut down after his Sept. 1 start, and felt pain Friday while throwing a ball into the infield as he shagged fly balls that day.
He finishes the season with a 7-8 record and 3.04 ERA.
DeGrom said Saturday he needed the surgery but did not commit to it due to the slim possibility he could pitch through the injury, but has decided to proceed with the surgery.
He said the surgery would require approximately three months of recovery time and that he would be ready for spring training.
Losing deGrom is a tough blow for a Mets team that already is without Matt Harvey (surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome) and Zack Wheeler (Tommy John surgery). Steven Matz (left shoulder tightness) is currently sidelined but he may return Friday.
Tebow hits home run
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- On his second day of Instructional League, Tim Tebow homered on his next-to-last swing of the day against batting practice pitcher Jose Carreno, the manager of the Gulf Coast League Mets.
It was Tebow's second consecutive day facing Carreno, 38, a former minor-league catcher. So perhaps the lefty-swinging Tebow just figured out the right-hander's stuff.
"It's not necessarily the goal," Tebow said of hitting home runs. "But if you do it, it's good, too. Like today, we're just working on trying to go gap-to-gap, keeping everything in the gaps, so there's a focus and that's the goal. If you get one good and it goes a little farther, that's great, too."
This one one-hopped the right-center-field wall.
After that, Tebow's three rounds of batting practice were over. He shagged fly balls in the outfield, signed autographs and then held his second news conference in as many days.
Tebow, 29, will work out with 57 other Mets minor leaguers through Friday -- no more news conferences this week -- before leaving to do his TV work for the SEC Network. This week it's Auburn-LSU on Saturday.
After that, Tebow will return to the diamond on Monday as the Mets' squad begins to play games against other teams' rookies and prospects.
CUBS
Strop to return Friday
CHICAGO -- Cubs right-hander Pedro Strop is set to be activated off the disabled list Friday, solidifying Chicago's bullpen for the playoffs.
Strop threw about 20 pitches without difficulty in a simulated game Tuesday and declared himself pain-free following knee and groin injuries. Manager Joe Maddon said Strop would pitch Friday against St. Louis.
The Cubs plan to give Strop five appearances before the NL Central champions begin the postseason on Oct. 7.
Strop and Hector Rondon figure to share seventh- and eighth-inning duties for the Cubs to set up closer Aroldis Chapman.
Strop, 31, needed surgery for a meniscus tear suffered in his last appearance Aug. 10. A groin strain then set back his rehab. He has a 2.89 ERA in 50 appearances this season.
TIGERS
Kinsler, Martinez still out
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Detroit Tigers kept second baseman Ian Kinsler and designated hitter Victor Martinez out of the lineup Tuesday night at Minnesota because both have injuries stemming from being hit by pitches in their previous game.
Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus said Kinsler still felt "a little foggy" two days after a beaning by Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer knocked his helmet off and triggered concussion-like symptoms.
Martinez was also hit by Bauer in the same inning on the knee, which remained purple and swollen on Tuesday.
YANKEES
Hicks off DL
ST.PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The New York Yankees reinstated outfielder Aaron Hicks from the 15-day disabled list and inserted him into the lineup for Tuesday night's game against Tampa Bay.
Hicks missed 17 games with a strained right hamstring.
Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury didn't rule out starting tonight. He bruised his right knee sliding into a bullpen wall trying to make a catch Saturday at Boston
Ellsbury said the knee is still sore, but that it's "headed in the right direction."
Third baseman Chase Headley was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game because of back spasms.
Headley was limited to indoor work, but said he is "definitely feeling better." He had an MRI on Monday.
Manager Joe Girardi said he is hopeful that Headley will be able to play by the end of the week.
Sports on 09/21/2016