PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets ace Max Scherzer is dealing with a hamstring issue and isn’t sure when he’ll pitch next, another frustrating setback for the top of New York’s heralded but suddenly fragile rotation.

A day after the Mets said star Jacob deGrom will miss significant time with a shoulder injury, Scherzer was scratched from his outing Saturday morning in a simulated game.

Just five days away from Opening Day in Washington, Scherzer said he wasn’t sure about the immediate plans. The three-time Cy Young Award winner said he doesn’t expect the trouble with his right hamstring to be a long-term problem.

“Don’t know,” Scherzer said when asked when he’d pitch again. “I’ve had these little hamstring injuries before. They go away in days. Fortunately enough I’ve been pretty good to not have serious hamstring injuries. I’ve had just little hiccups.”

“I think this is the same thing. For me, it’s just a day-to-day thing … but when you’re dealing with hammies, you never know.”

Mets Manager Buck Showalter said he would lean on the 37-year-old right-hander for advice going forward, but added that Scherzer was still in consideration for the Opening Day nod against his former Nationals teammates.

“If you look at the days and off and what have you, yeah, but I’m not committed to that,” Showalter said.

The Mets signed Scherzer as a free agent to a $130 million, three-year contract. That seemed to give them a dominant front of the rotation, but the news that deGrom wouldn’t throw for up to four weeks but a huge dent in those hopes.

There is no timetable for deGrom’s return. In addition to the time he won’t throw, the two-time Cy Young Award winner might need at least a month after that to get ready to pitch in the majors – and that might be a best-case scenario after he missed the second half last year because of an elbow injury.

BRAVES: Reliever Luke Jackson has ligament damage in his right elbow and there’s no timetable for his return.

A key part of the bullpen last year during Atlanta’s run to the World Series championship, Jackson is having a “comprehensive evaluation,” the team said Saturday.

The Braves said tests revealed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in Jackson’s elbow. The 30-year-old had the test after he was shut down for a week and then had renewed discomfort when he resumed throwing.

Problems with the ulnar collateral ligament can lead to Tommy John surgery, which would end Jackson’s season.

Jackson posted 18 saves in 2019 and has since served as one of the team’s top setup men. He was 2-2 with a career-best 1.98 ERA in 71 games in 2021, helping Atlanta win its first championship since 1995.

GUARDIANS: After striking out in free agency, Cleveland locked up one of their own, agreeing to terms with closer Emmanuel Clase on a $20 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Clase’s deal is pending him passing a physical, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the agreement.

The deal includes club options for 2027 and 2028 worth $10 million each. It could be a few days before the deal is completed, the person said.

Clase missed all of 2020 after being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs. However, he thrived in his first year as Cleveland’s closer, recording 24 saves with a 1.29 ERA in 71 appearances as a rookie in 2021. Clase had 74 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings.

ANGELS: Los Angeles designated Justin Upton for assignment despite owing the slugging outfielder $19.5 million this season.

The Angels will still be responsible for Upton’s salary unless he’s claimed by another team, which seems unlikely. The 34-year-old Upton hit .211 with 17 homers, 41 RBI and a .705 OPS over 89 games last season.

Upton is in the final season of a $106 million, five-year deal he signed to stay in Los Angeles a few months after being acquired from Detroit via trade during the 2017 season.

A four-time All-Star, Upton was among the game’s promising young stars when he broke into the majors as a 19-year-old with Arizona in 2007. He has 324 home runs and 1,000 RBI over 15 major league seasons.

YANKEES: Playfully wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers football helmet, New York Yankees minor league manager Rachel Balkovec was back on the field.

Balkovec, hired as the first woman to manage a minor league affiliate of a major league team, was hit in the face by a batted ball during a drill March 22. The accident caused facial swelling.

The 34-year-old Balkovec took the field for the first inning to coach first base in a minor league intrasquad game. Her Bucs helmet was adorned with a Yankees logo.

“You don’t have a sense of humor, you’re not going to last very long out here,” Balkovec said with a laugh. “Our head clubhouse manager put this in my locker. The players said I should wear it. You’ve got give the people what they want.”

Balkovec’s injury caused her to miss her first scheduled spring training game two days later with Class A Tampa. She’s all set to manage her first regular-season game on April 8 at Lakeland.

ORIOLES: Baltimore and slugger Trey Mancini agreed on a $7.5 million, one-year deal to avoid arbitration that includes a $10 million mutual option for the 2023 season.

The 30-year-old Mancini missed all of 2020 after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer that March. He returned in 2021 and batted .255 with 21 homers, 71 RBI and a .758 OPS in 147 games.

The fan favorite also finished second to Mets star Pete Alonso at the 2021 All-Star Home Run Derby.

If Baltimore declines Mancini’s 2023 option, he’ll get a $250,000 buyout.

MARLINS: Sandy Alcantara will make the third Opening Day start when the Miami Marlins open the season at San Francisco, Manager Don Mattingly said.

Alcantara, 26, becomes the third Marlins pitcher to start three consecutive opening days, joining Josh Johnson and Josh Beckett.

A lack of run support contributed to Alcantara’s 9-15 record last season, when he posted a 3.19 ERA over 33 starts. In five major league seasons, the right-handed Alcantara owns a 20-34 record with a 3.49 ERA in 86 appearances, 79 starts.

NATIONALS: Patrick Corbin will make his first Opening Day start with the Washington Nationals on Thursday against the New York Mets, Manager Dave Martinez said.

“He feels strong and, like I said, he’s throwing the ball where he wants to throw it,” Martinez said. “So it’s good. I’m looking forward to watching him go out there and compete come April 7.”

The 32-year-old Corbin enjoyed the best year of his career in 2019, his first with Washington. He went 14-7 with a 3.25 ERA while helping pitch the Nationals to their lone World Series title.