The Mets’ relief corps, already in shambles after Edwin Diaz was suspended for illegal substance use prior to Sunday’s game against the Cubs in Chicago, will now also be without Drew Smith, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday with a right elbow sprain.
Asked after Wednesday’s 12-2 win over the Yankees whether Smith could undergo surgery, manager Carlos Mendoza said doctors were still gathering information.
Right-hander Ty Adcock was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Smith.
Mendoza said Smith was playing catch on Wednesday and “felt tightness in his forearm.”
Smith underwent an MRI, which revealed a sprain.
Asked whether the injury was related to Smith, who replaced the ejected Diaz and reported arm discomfort during the game, Mendoza said Smith “did not indicate anything specific was wrong” after taking the game.
“He just had a hard time getting warmed up,” Mendoza said.[Tuesday and Wednesday] “There’s just a sense of tension there. He doesn’t seem too worried, but he still senses something. I want to make sure I haven’t missed anything that could put him at risk.”
Smith, 30, has appeared in 19 games this season but has struggled for the most part.
Diaz has not spoken to the media since serving his 10-game suspension and did not do so again before Wednesday’s game against the Yankees.
His suspension leaves the Mets’ relief corps thin.
Adcock, 27, appeared in 12 games for the Mariners last year, posting a 0.702 WHIP in 15 2/3 innings.
The Mets acquired him off waivers from the Tigers in May, but Adcock has played in Triple-A three times this season, starting with Seattle’s affiliate earlier in the year, but failed to pitch well on any of those occasions.
The team is already without Sean Reid-Foley, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury, and left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley, who is out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery.
Mendoza said he would name a closer if Diaz is unavailable.
The relief pitchers struggled in Tuesday’s Subway Series opener against the Yankees.
The Mets led by as many as eight runs by the seventh inning and Danny Young gave up a home run to Aaron Judge in the sixth inning Wednesday, but Adrian Houser pitched three scoreless innings to ease the pitching load heading into Thursday’s off day.
