Christian Scott is recovering from a right elbow UCL sprain that has sidelined him since July 21 and there is still a chance he could return to the Mets this season.
Scott is throwing every pitch, but he's not at full strength yet.
There's still no timetable for Scott's return, but the right-hander said before the Mets' 4-1 win over the Red Sox on Monday, “I feel like it's possible. I'm working as hard as I can to get in that position.”
Carlos Mendoza said the 25-year-old pitcher is in “good shape” and should be able to start working in the bullpen in the next few days.
Scott said he wanted to be patient in his return because he could not afford any issues if he wanted to return to the game in 2024.
“You can't get too far ahead and put your foot on the gas and then back off,” Scott says. [at pitching again] next year.”
Scott showed glimpses of being a top Mets pitching prospect even before he was first promoted in early May, but after posting a 3.54 ERA over his first five starts in the majors, he had a 5.49 ERA over his final four starts before getting injured.
Francisco Alvarez did not start his second straight game on Monday, with manager Mendoza saying he was giving the struggling catcher a “mental break” after playing against Boston right-hander Bryan Bello.
Mendoza added that Alvarez will play in Tuesday's game.
Alvarez entered Monday's start with just three hits in 32 at-bats, no extra base hits and 12 strikeouts in his previous 12 games.
Mendoza said in Chicago that Alvarez is still “our player” and is taking extra batting practice, and he continued practicing Monday at Citi Field.
Luis Torrens started again in place of Alvarez on Monday and has been impressive throughout his first season in Queens since being acquired from the Yankees but has struggled recently.
Coming into his pitching appearance on Monday, Torrence had just five hits in 34 at-bats with no extra base hits and nine strikeouts in his past nine games.
Phil Mutton continued his strong performance for the Mets, retiring all three batters in the top of the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Mendoza said Edwin Diaz was unavailable because the closer had pitched in four of the past five games, but noted that Maton had also been used heavily in recent days, appearing in three of the past four games.
Mutton would likely only be used in situations where a save was needed.
The right-hander has allowed just four runs in 20 1/3 innings since joining the team in a trade with Tampa Bay and entered Monday's game with a 0.776 WHIP for the Mets.
“He did everything we asked him to do,” Mendoza said. “He was huge for us.”
Owner Steve Cohen was in the dugout before the game and spoke briefly with Mendoza.
Asked about Cohen's message, Mendoza said: “Keep going.”
Mendoza said right-hander Dedniel Nunez is not expected to pitch during the homestand because he is trying to recover from a tightness in his right forearm.
“His symptoms are the same as when he was on the IL the last time,” Mendoza said.
“It's a confluence of a lot of things,” Mendoza said of Jose Bhutto's recent slump, which he has allowed three runs on five hits and one home run in his past three starts.
“He bounced back from a stressful innings. [pitching] “He'll pitch one inning and then have a day off,” Mendoza said. “There's a lot of different ways to use him. He's a high-leverage pitcher. We're going to be smart about giving him the extra rest.” [of rest].”
