The Mets still tout confidence in their pitching corps, even though the numbers haven’t been there to back it up. And with two of their top relievers sitting on the injured list, their depth just shrank.
The Mets’ pitching staff entered Wednesday with the worst ERA (5.21) in the National League. As a staff, they’ve issued the fourth-most walks (116) and the second-highest opponent batting average (.263). The relievers aren’t much better, ranking 28th in the league with a shoddy 5.38 ERA after 29 games played.
Right-hander Jeurys Familia (right shoulder soreness) joined southpaw Justin Wilson (left shoulder soreness) as the second arm in the Mets bullpen to sustain an injury on Wednesday. Familia’s MRI showed a bone spur, something the righty has dealt with in the past and the team hopes will be resolved rather quickly.
Wilson’s MRI came back negative, but the Mets are holding off from activating Wilson until he throws off the mound. It’s possible he’ll make an appearance when the team hits the road for Milwaukee and San Diego on Friday.
“Wilson just threw a flat ground today,” Callaway said. “It looked really good. Our bullpen catcher couldn’t catch it. He almost got killed back there. Wilson’s getting closer and closer. He’ll throw off the mound again, then we’ll try to figure out if he needs to face some live hitters before he’s activated.”
The Mets had to call up left-hander Ryan O’Rourke on Wednesday after Familia went down. He last pitched in a big-league game for the Twins in 2016. At this point, the Mets are reaching for any arm they can get.
“Every organization strives to have the best pitching depth they possibly can, and ours rivals just about any,” Callaway said. “It’s a situation where you can’t just go out, we need pitching depth, and go get it. Anybody that is better than what we have would already be pitching in the big leagues somewhere.”
For all the moves newly-minted general manager Brodie Van Wagenen made in the offseason, the Mets are not filling their immediate needs by taking a stab at the free-agent market. If Familia’s injury lingers, right-hander Craig Kimbrel would be an obvious replacement, and even if Familia is healthy, Kimbrel would represent a massive upgrade.
Kimbrel, a seven-time All-Star with a killer fastball, is still waiting to be employed. He was last reported to be waiting for a long-term deal. The 30-year-old began the past offseason in hopes of a five-year deal within the range of $100 million, per reports, but has likely lowered his price tag since.
Like free-agent starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, if Kimbrel signs before the June 3 MLB Amateur Draft, their team will have to give up a draft pick due to the qualifying offer he already received. Due to that reason, many clubs are likely waiting for that date to pass before making any legitimate offers.
When Callaway was asked if the Mets’ lack of bullpen depth could receive a helping hand from Kimbrel, the Mets skipper shrugged his shoulders before responding.
“I just play the players that I’m given,” Callaway said. “I think we do everything we can to field the best team, and I believe in those players that I’m given. That’s really all that we need, in my opinion. We’ll go out there and get the job done.”
INJURY UPDATE
With Jeff McNeil’s bat proving to be a must-start in the Mets lineup and J.D. Davis making an early offensive impact, it increasingly sounds like Jed Lowrie may be asked to move around the diamond when he’s activated from the injury list.
Lowrie was expected to be the Mets everyday third baseman before he sustained a left knee capsule sprain in the first week of spring training. While he rehabbed in Port St. Lucie, the Mets found a way to get production from the hot corner.
The 33-year-old infielder is progressing in his rehab and, barring any setbacks, should join the big-league team by the end of May. Lowrie recently went 2-for-4 with a double for the St. Lucie Mets in a rehab game.
“Lowrie is playing in Port St. Lucie again today, nine innings, and progressing really well,” Callaway said. “We’re moving him around the field, playing him at short, playing him at third, playing him at second, so he’s ready to go and available for any position that we might want to put him at once he gets up here.”
