#Mets’ Jacob deGrom plan doesn’t include Yankees tune-up

Jacob deGrom’s pursuit of his scheduled Opening Day start won’t include an exhibition tune-up against the Yankees.

The Mets ace, who was removed from his last start in an intrasquad scrimmage after only one inning because of back discomfort, threw 17 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and indicated he felt strong physically, according to manager Luis Rojas.

But the plan now is for deGrom to pitch in a simulated game Sunday instead of starting at Yankee Stadium, as originally planned.

Rick Porcello is scheduled to start against the Yankees on Saturday at Citi Field. Corey Oswalt will start in deGrom’s place Sunday.

DeGrom will likely throw 50-60 pitches in his simulated game. Rojas would like to have him in position to throw 85 pitches in the Mets’ opener against the Braves on Friday.

“He felt very loose [Friday], so basically stayed on the same words that he’s used the last couple of days as far as saying it was tightness and with the treatment it got looser,” Rojas said. “Today it felt like a regular side for him. The same feeling as throwing the ball as usual.”

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Yoenis Cespedes is expected to play in both exhibition games this weekend. Rojas indicated he may use Cespedes as the DH on Saturday and then start him in left field the following night at Yankee Stadium.

It would be a test for Cespedes, who is attempting to show he’s mobile enough to be a consideration for outfield duties in addition to DH this season.

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“Yankee Stadium has got the big gap, so if he’s moving around and taking a first step off the bat, if he can play left there and get challenged with a few plays that will say a lot to us,” Rojas said. “That is something we haven’t seen yet in our games as much, it’s been fungo drills and different drills like that, but we want to see it in games too to get a better feel.

“But every day he seems to move better. We see him on the bases just making turns, cutting angles, so he’s done his homework as far as the progression and doing what he has to with the performance staff.”

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Jed Lowrie’s running ability is still a concern to team officials with less than a week before Opening Day. Though Lowrie has participated in intrasquad scrimmages this week, he doesn’t appear to be a lock for the 30-man roster. Lowrie missed almost all of last season with various ailments and has been wearing a leg brace in camp.

“We have seen Jed’s progression in games, his at-bats, able to go out there and play second and third [base],” Rojas said. “Some of the challenges he’s had is running the bases and we still want to see that progression ramp up.”