SAN DIEGO — Huascar Brazovan’s healthy performance remains intriguing for the Mets, but the right-hander’s reaction to his failure has raised some alarm within the organization.
“He’s probably too hard on himself, especially after a bad game,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday after Brazovan was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse and Dedniel Nunez returned from the injured list.
Brazovan struggled on the mound on Thursday, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning despite taking the mound with a seven-run lead against the Padres.
It was the third time in four appearances that Brazovan had conceded a goal, but Mendoza said that was not the only factor in the decision to relegate them.
“It was just a question of how hard he took it,” Mendoza said, “so I think this is a reset for him, because he’s really good on that side of things.”
Brazovan, acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline, has posted a 6.30 ERA in nine games for the Mets.
The Mets only have three relief pitchers with minor league options remaining: Brazovan, Reid Garrett and Danny Young.
Nunez, a right-handed pitcher, has missed the past 3 1/2 weeks with a pronator strain in his right arm.
Nunez appeared in a minor league rehab game against Syracuse on Tuesday.
Nunez has been one of the Mets’ most effective relief pitchers this season, giving the team a boost when it matters most.
He entered Friday with a 2.43 ERA in 24 games with the team.
Mendoza’s outfield rotation doesn’t appear to be one that would keep Brandon Nimmo from playing in occasional games on the bench.
Nimmo wasn’t in the lineup Friday, but Mendoza placed Jeff McNeil in left field, Harrison Bader in center field and Starling Marte in right field.
Nimmo struggled in August with a .668 OPS, but appeared to be back on track last weekend, hitting two home runs in three games against the Marlins.
But Nimmo hurt his right shoulder diving into left field on Sunday and was just two for 12 at-bats in his three games since returning on Friday.
Before Friday, Mets starters had a 3.23 ERA with 37 strikeouts and nine walks in their six previous starts, four of which were deemed quality starts.
