The New York Mets will get one pitcher back from injury Friday but have lost two more for the season.
If there’s one narrative that has remained consistent throughout the 2017 season, it’s that the Mets can’t win. Even when the team gets good news, it’s accompanied by some not-so-good news.
But first, the good news. All-Star closer Jeurys Familia, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since early May, will be activated before Friday’s series-opener against the Washington Nationals.
Familia expected to be activated tomorrow, Wright participating in baseball activities.
Full medical updates: https://t.co/t5aBdDGwbB pic.twitter.com/Lth08GdeP3
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 24, 2017
Familia had surgery to remove a blood clot near his right shoulder, a procedure that required a lengthy stay on the disabled list. But he’s finally ready to rejoin the team, and he’s not concerned with the role he’ll fill.
“I don’t worry about the saves,” Familia told Fran Kilinski of the New York Daily News. “I just want to be 100 percent healthy and have good outings. Whether that’s as a closer, that doesn’t matter to me. I just want to finish strong and get ready for next season.”
With AJ Ramos more than capable of handling things in the ninth inning, the Mets can ease Familia back into action.
RELATED: Steven Matz Out For The Year
Now For the Bad News
Bad news is subjective, of course, depending on your view of the players involved. But the Mets announced that they will be without the services of both Tyler Pill and Zack Wheeler for the rest of the season.
Pill underwent arthroscopic elbow debridement surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow Wednesday. Over seven games (three starts) for the Mets this season, he’s gone 0-3 with a 5.32 ERA and 1.46 WHIP.
Wheeler, who missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to Tommy John surgery and spent time on the disabled list earlier this year for biceps tendinitis, has been out since late July due to a stress reaction in his right arm.
In 17 starts, Wheeler went 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. He allowed more than 10 hits per nine innings of work. It’s unclear whether he’ll need a medical procedure to solve his latest arm injury.
Clearly, the Mets can no longer count on Wheeler being part of their long-term rotation plans. He’s simply too great of a risk at this point.
Courtesy of the New York Times‘ James Wagner, here’s a rundown of the rest of the updates surrounding the Mets’ lengthy list of injured players.
Most notable news from Mets: Jeurys Familia to be activated Fri.; Zack Wheeler's season is over; Noah Syndergaard to throw live BP in Fla. pic.twitter.com/ubbd4Y4AmK
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) August 24, 2017
One note on that list: If Seth Lugo’s bullpen Friday bullpen session goes well, the team is considering him to start Sunday night’s game against the Nationals.
Other Mets News, Links
- Newsday‘s David Lennon reports that Yoenis Cespedes seems to be warming to the idea of becoming a clubhouse leader. That very topic was covered earlier this week by ESNY’s Zachary Weisleder.
- Mets manager Terry Collins tells Matt Stypulkoski of NJ.com what he’d like to see more of from first base prospect Dominic Smith.
