The Mets’ thin outfield became even leaner Wednesday when the team placed Albert Almora Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder contusion.
Almora sustained the injury Tuesday night when he crashed into the center-field fence at Citi Field while attempting a catch. He joined Brandon Nimmo among Mets outfielders on the IL.
“Right after the collision [Almora] was moving, but after the game you could see that he was holding his left shoulder a little,” manager Luis Rojas said before the Mets’ 7-1 victory Wednesday over the Orioles at Citi Field. “His knee is also bothering him because he hit the wall. But the left shoulder contusion is the one that is hurting him the most right now.”
The Mets recalled Khalil Lee from Triple-A Syracuse to provide outfield depth. Lee was acquired from the Royals over the winter as part of a three-way trade that also included the Red Sox.
Rojas previously said he’s hopeful Nimmo (bone bruise in left index finger) will return this weekend. Nimmo is closer to returning than is J.D. Davis, who has been sidelined with a left hand sprain.
Albert Almora will spend time on the IL after a crash into the center-field wall. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostJeff McNeil was available off the bench a day after he departed Tuesday’s game with body cramps. Jose Peraza started at second base and finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Drew Smith pitched a perfect ninth inning in his season debut. The right-hander was recalled from Syracuse on Sunday after spending April rehabbing from a shoulder injury he sustained in spring training. Robert Gsellman pitched a scoreless eighth for the Mets, but allowed a hit and walked two batters in the inning.
Rojas noted the Mets’ 11-4 record at Citi Field, which included wins in all five games on the homestand.
“There’s guys coming into play that weren’t playing on a regular basis,” Rojas said. “When they see that they are included to the starting lineup and they are part of the winning formula, that just brings everybody into the same level of confidence. That is the one part I see is real important since we are going now on the road and we want to be playing like we are at home.”
The Mets’ seven-game winning streak is their longest since they won eight straight from Aug. 3-10 in 2019.
