There are a lot of clouds in the Mets’ rotation, but the immediate plans are clear.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Adrian Hauser is scheduled to return to the starting rotation, at least temporarily, against Philadelphia on Wednesday, giving the club’s other starting pitchers an extra day of rest.
At least for this turn, Hauser will serve as the sixth starter during a rotational turn that doesn’t include off days.
Introducing Hauser will postpone Jose Quintana until Thursday, giving the left-hander five days of rest before starting.
Quintana, 35, started two games with four days of rest and posted a 10.57 ERA this year.
“He’s still growing,” Coach Mendoza said of Hauser. He started six games and posted an 8.16 ERA, then was removed from the rotation and pitched two scoreless innings in the bullpen. “He’s trying to find extra rest days for some players so he’ll be ready.”
Wednesday’s performance will certainly be taken into account, but it’s also possible that Hauser will be the last starter on a team that will soon have more rotation options.
Tyler Megill began his fourth rehab stint Sunday at Double-A Binghamton, throwing 74 pitches in 5 1/3 scoreless innings and “feeling good,” Mendoza said.
Megill was placed in the rotation this season due to an injury to Kodai Chiga, but after pitching four innings, he was forced to go on the disabled list with tightness in his right shoulder.
Even without Megill, Jose Butt and Christian Scott pitched well enough to remain in the rotation.
Hauser is gone, but Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Quintana (who has struggled recently) have solidified their spots considerably.
Megill could join the team later this week or next weekend as the sixth rotation member to replace Hauser, who returns to Penn. Megill could also serve as an interesting multi-inning bullpen guy. Alternatively, he could continue to develop in the minors and serve as rotational depth.
“Everything is at stake here,” Mendoza said before the Mets lost 5-4 in 10 innings to the Phillies at Citi Field on Monday. “We need to make a decision in the next few days. Next time let’s see what we got with this.”
Drew Smith (right shoulder soreness) is expected to return Tuesday off the IL, Mendoza said.
Smith made two rehab appearances at Triple-A Syracuse, allowing one run in two innings on Wednesday and Sunday.
David Peterson (who had hip surgery in the offseason) is expected to pitch about 75 pitches as he begins his rehabilitation at Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday.
Manaea (six innings, one run) became the ninth pitcher in franchise history to allow one or zero home runs in his first eight starts.
He allowed just one finger in 41¹/₃ innings.
JD Martinez (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 1 walk) had his first three hits of the season.
The Mets recalled Shintaro Fujinami from Triple-A Syracuse to place him on the 15-day IL due to right shoulder tightness.
Powerful but wild, Fujinami had 17 walks in 7/3 innings during his time at Syracuse.
