The Mets entered Saturday’s game with a bullpen that pitched the second-most innings in the majors, but with Drew Smith sidelined with right shoulder inflammation, they added another arm into the 15-day league game.
They are already without Brooks Lally, who is also on the IL with left elbow inflammation.
Carlos Mendoza said Smith first complained of chest tightness after appearing in last Saturday’s game against the Dodgers, then took a few days off before returning after Tuesday’s game in San Francisco, giving up two runs in the first inning. He said he did.
Mendoza added that the Mets received “some good news” regarding the injury, as an MRI scan showed only inflammation in that area.
“So we don’t expect this to be long term,” Mendoza said. “We hope to have him back within the next two weeks.”
DeDoniel Nunez was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to take Smith’s spot in the rotation.
The right-handed pitcher appeared in one game out of the Mets’ pen in Atlanta earlier this month.
Mendoza admitted that relying so heavily on the bullpen so far is “not ideal.”
“This is part of 162.” [-game season]” Mendoza said. “We’ve been pretty cautious about taking care of our team…It’s important for the starters to go deep and I know they will. I see the starting pitching getting better.”
The rotation should be strengthened next month as Kodai Senga continues to make progress from a shoulder injury that sidelined him since spring training.
He is scheduled to face batters on Monday for the first time since the injury.
And on Saturday, Single-A Brooklyn’s Tyler Megill struck out six batters in two scoreless innings in his first rehab start since being placed on the IL with a shoulder strain.
Chiga will not be eligible to return from the 60-day IL until May 27th.
The 36-year-old returned to the lineup at DH on Saturday, a day after J.D. Martinez’s impressive debut with the Mets in which he had two hits.
Mendoza said he will monitor Martinez’s health as he returns from a back strain that delayed the start of the season.
“He’s fine,” Mendoza said. “We take it every day.”
With Francisco Alvarez on the IL, Mendoza was asked if Omar Narváez would start in the back for most games, but Mendoza said no, saying, “There will definitely be a chance.” Ta. [Tomas] Nido. ”
“I think it’s a 50-50 situation,” Mendoza said of playing time. “I felt like [Saturday] It was a good day to get [Narvaez] Therefore.Nido will probably play [Sunday]. We’re going to work on matchups and things like that.”
Brett Batty is one of the hitters in another slump, going into Saturday’s game 2-for-21 in his past seven games, but 2-for-19 since returning from a hamstring strain. was.
“This is one of those stretches where he’s not producing,” Mendoza said. “I checked with him and his hamstring was fine.”
