To add insult to injury, the Athletics suffered a 9-4 loss, with J.D. Martinez leaving the game early with a bruised elbow.
Martinez is being monitored after X-rays were negative on his left elbow, where he took a 99.6 mph fastball in his lone at-bat on Tuesday.
The Mets’ designated hitter, a key member of a struggling offensive line, was hit by a Joe Boyle fastball and sprinted toward the visiting dugout, seemingly trying to stave off the pain.
Trainer and manager Carlos Mendoza checked on Martinez, but he remained in the game for some base running and scored a run.
But sprinting from second base to home plate was tough.
“As I was running, I felt like I got hit again,” Martinez said after the loss at Citi Field. “I just felt weak, like I couldn’t even grip my hands.”
However, Martinez is hopeful he will be fit for Wednesday’s game and does not believe further tests will be necessary.
He said he was certain his elbow wasn’t broken, but it was still quite painful.
“We felt pretty good about it,” said Mendoza, who brought in Mark Vientos as the new designated hitter in the third inning.
Vientos was left out of the starting lineup for the second straight game because of a sore left ankle, and watched as Jose Iglesias got the start at third base.
Before the game, Mendoza believed Vientos would return to third base on Wednesday.
“He’s in good form,” Mendoza said. “He really wanted to start but he wasn’t in the starting line-up on Sunday so I wanted to see him work through the pre-game training.”
Dedniel Nunez, who has been out since July 23 with a right pronator injury, threw his second bullpen session since the injury on Tuesday and “feels good,” Mendoza said.
The Mets will see how Nunez responds before deciding on his next steps, but the right-hander could take some more bullpen time or move on to live batting practice, which would be one step before a rehab assignment.
Nunez could begin a rehab assignment within a week.
“We’re getting closer,” said Mendoza, who said the Mets will make a decision about their bullpen in the coming weeks.
Nunez, 28, has been phenomenal since making his big league debut in May, pitching 24 1/3 innings in June and July, many of them in multi-inning bursts of relief, while posting a 2.22 ERA with 30 strikeouts, five walks and a .182 batting average.
The Mets would love to see Nunez produce a similar number whenever he’s ready, but they don’t have a particularly flexible relief corps.
Only four pitchers from the major league bullpen can be sent down to the minor leagues: Alex Young (the only lefty), Reid Garrett (who is just returning from injury and is invaluable when he’s on form), Jose Butto (probably the most reliable reliever) and Huascar Brazovan (3.22 ERA this year, on loan).
Alternatively, the Mets could DFA a player like Adam Ottavino (who bounced back from a terrible May) or loanee Ryne Stanek, who has struggled so far but has a promising track record.
Eventually, space will be needed for Nunez and possibly Sean Reid-Foley, who is rehabbing from a right shoulder injury but hasn’t performed well in his first five minor league games.
Starling Marte played right field for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and had one hit in four at-bats.
Wednesday is a day game for Syracuse, so Mendoza didn’t expect Marte to play in back-to-back games just yet.
Marte, who is recovering from a bone bruise in his right knee, could be a major league option this weekend if he plays back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday without any issues, Mendoza said.
Drew Smith has returned to the team after undergoing Tommy John surgery last month.
Smith, who wears a brace on his right arm, said he is feeling fine.
The Texas native underwent surgery in his hometown and initially rehabbed in Texas, but requested to rejoin his teammates and received permission from president of baseball operations David Stearns.
The Mets held a moment of silence for former player and coach Mike Cubbage, who died Saturday at age 74.
The Mets have signed veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario to a minor league contract, a person confirmed.
Rosario, a 10-year professional player, won the World Series with the Braves in 2021 and was named NL Championship Series MVP, but this season he played in 91 games for the Nationals and Braves, batting just .175 with a .531 OPS.
Atlanta designated the 32-year-old as their designated pick on Aug. 8, and he opted into free agency shortly thereafter.
Although he is a left-handed hitter, Rosario has been most effective against right-handed hitters in his career so far and will be assigned to Triple-A Syracuse, where he will likely add depth to the outfield.
—Additional reporting by Bridget Riley
