The Mets’ already precarious starting rotation took another hit on Tuesday. In other words, just another day ending in the letter “y.”
Less than three hours before first pitch, scheduled starter David Peterson was placed on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder fatigue and replaced by Corey Oswalt.
Peterson, off to an impressive start in his rookie year, had complained of soreness in his previous start last Thursday and was lifted after five strong innings for that reason. But he was expected to pitch Tuesday.
“When he woke up, he felt a little weird with his shoulder and he contacted our trainer,” manager Luis Rojas said before the Mets won their second straight, 8-3, and Oswalt delivered 4 ¹/₃ quality innings of two-run ball. “The decision [was] just to be more careful. Shoulder soreness, we didn’t want to push it.”
This is the second time in the past five days the Mets had to scratch their scheduled starter hours before first pitch. Last Friday, it was Jacob deGrom (neck stiffness) who was unable to go.
David PetersonCharles Wenzelberg/New York Post“Just running into this today is a surprise to us,” Rojas said. “This is nothing we would have hidden.”
Rojas said he is unsure what the next step will be for Peterson, whether he’ll have to get an MRI exam. His IL stint was backdated to Thursday, so he would be eligible to make his next scheduled start, Sunday against the Yankees at Citi Field. Peterson had been a bright spot in the rotation, going 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA.
Already, the Mets are without top starters Noah Syndergaard (Tommy John surgery) and Marcus Stroman (opt out), and they have yet to say whether struggling southpaw Steven Matz (9.00 ERA) will make his scheduled start on Thursday, saying they are not committed one way or the other. Michael Wacha (shoulder inflammation) is still on the IL, though he was scheduled to throw a simulated game on Tuesday.. Rojas wouldn’t say who would be an option in Matz’s spot, but it would seem to be Walker Lockett, who filled in for deGrom on Friday and threw a bullpen session on Monday. DeGrom is scheduled to start Wednesday. Of the projected rotation, just Rick Porcello and Matz have stayed healthy.
“That’s just the nature of this 2020 season,” Dom Smith said. “We just know we have an expanded pool worth of guys, and the next guys have to step up.”
One potential solution could be Seth Lugo, the valuable reliever and former starter who has voiced his desire to go back into the rotation. Though he would need to build up to give the Mets length as a starter, the bullpen has pitched well of late, in particular Edwin Diaz and Dellin Betances, which would obviously factor into the decision since Lugo has been used as the closer.
“You never know,” Rojas said. “It’s something to think about it.”
