NEW YORK _ Mother Nature is affecting the Cy Young race.
Monday's Mets-Marlins game at Citi Field has been rained out and the teams will now play a single-admission doubleheader Wednesday with the first game at 4:10 p.m.
Due to the rainout, Jacob deGrom likely will only make four starts the rest of the season unless the team brings him back on short rest, which is doubtful, per a source.
DeGrom had been slated to make five starts had he made his scheduled start either Sunday or Monday. The righty had been lined up for Sunday, but the team pushed him back due to poor conditions Sunday that forced the start of the game to be delayed.
If deGrom stays on regular rest, his remaining starts would be: Sept. 11 against Miami, Sept. 16 against Boston, Sept. 21 against Washington and Sept. 26 against Miami. Those dates aren't set, though, since there is one day left in the schedule.
The Mets are currently against bringing back deGrom on short rest to start the season finale on Sept. 30, and that's a wise move. DeGrom will soon set a new career high in innings pitched, and those innings may not affect who wins the award.
That game also won't have any playoff implications.
DeGrom is considered the favorite for the award at this point with the 30-year-old holding a sizable ERA lead on Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola. He is 8-8 with an MLB-best 1.68 ERA through 28 starts, and has struck out 230 batters.
Nola and Scherzer are ahead of deGrom in certain categories, with Scherzer notably ahead in strikeouts, and both have chances to win 20 games.
Wednesday's doubleheader will feature Zack Wheeler in the first game while Jason Vargas will handle the nightcap. Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard start Thursday and Friday in that order, and deGrom will start Sunday's series finale in Boston.
A spot starter is needed Saturday in Boston, and Corey Oswalt seems the likely choice.
