Minneapolis – The insertion of the sixth starter into the Mets rotation occurs earlier than expected.
Justin Hagenman arrives from Triple A. Syracuse on Wednesday after Griffin Canning was injured due to illness.
The Mets initially planned to insert a sixth starter in their upcoming series with the Cardinals at Citifield.
Hagenman, a minor leaguer in his career, is on full rest.
Team Brass could have considered other possibilities, such as top pitching prospects Brandon Sproto, Blade Tidwell and Jose Urenha, less than full rest.
The sixth starter allows extra rest for Kodai Senga during this 13 straight games for the Mets.
The 28-year-old Hagenman (already on the 40-man roster) was signed to a major league contract this winter, despite never appearing in the big leagues.
Mendoza said the plan would be to give the canned food on a day, two or two, which would put him in a four-game series against the Cardinals starting Thursday at Citifield.
Jose Ciri has kept the Mets shorted to players for three days in a row due to what is called “many moving parts” that involves roster movement.
Siri was diagnosed with a fractured left tibia on Monday, leaving the Mets with an outfielder’s opening.
Mendoza had no timeline on Siri’s potential returns beyond the fact that outfielders on crutches don’t put weight on their legs for at least 10 days.
Beyond that, Siri needs two to three weeks before starting a “light” baseball activity.
“He’s going to be down for a while,” Mendoza said.
