Mets ace Justin Verlander talks injury and impending return, is ready to 'step on the gas'

The Mets have navigated the first month of their season without Justin Verlander, but that's about to change.

Verlander, who has been working his way back from a teres major strain, will make a rehab start on Friday at a site that's to be determined, with his plan being to join the Mets' rotation after that start.

The right-hander said "99 percent" of the pain and discomfort he had been dealing with is gone, noting that he has been doing a lot of work on the specific area that was injured -- along with work on his mechanics that he needed to iron out.

"I want to be back out there competing," Verlander told reporters on Tuesday at Citi Field. "It was tough. I take a lot of pride in being out there on the mound, being there for the boys. 

"This is a bit frustrating -- especially because it took a little longer to bounce back from than we thought initially. But no point crying over spilled milk, so here we are."

While Verlander originally expected to return in late-April, him being able to join the rotation as early as May 3 (which is five days after his rehab start) was only possible because he was able to keep throwing the entire time he was on the IL. 

Verlander -- who said he had a follow-up MRI that looked "really, really good" -- explained that "everyone's comfortable stepping on the gas and moving forward"

The 40-year-old threw a simulated game this past Sunday, and said there wasn't really anything he needed to cross off the list physically during it.

"I think the physical hurdle was just getting this thing to heal," he explained. "Even though it was a minor strain, it's in an area that you can't mess around with. It has to be completely healed before you step on the gas."

Verlander being out has been especially tough recently, with the Mets being without Max Scherzer due to his suspension and Carlos Carrasco because of an elbow injury. Scherzer and Carrasco being out forced the Mets to dig into their depth even more since Jose Quintana was already out.

As things currently stand, the only pitcher who was projected to be in the original rotation and is still in it is Kodai Senga. But as is noted above, that will change soon.

Scherzer is expected to be back on May 1 against the Braves, with Verlander following a few days later in Detroit against the Tigers. At that point, the Mets will have their vaunted top of the rotation together for the first time.