The New York Mets’ vulnerable rotation is losing a key member for at least the short term with right-hander Christian Scott headed for the injured list, league sources told The Athletic on Monday.
The exact nature of Scott’s injury was not immediately clear, but the early indications were that it was minor. Without Scott, the Mets have three firm options as starters, including Sean Manaea, who made his first start of the season on Saturday, throwing six innings. New York’s top two starters are Nolan McLean and Freddy Peralta.
The Mets’ rotation was already thin. They have failed to replace Clay Holmes (fractured fibula), who landed on the injured list last month. Scott’s injury could mean more opportunities for David Peterson, who carries a 5.75 ERA (3.51 FIP). Already this season, the Mets have tried using Peterson as a starter, bulk pitcher and reliever. He appeared after an opener in his latest outing and allowed six runs over 3 2/3 innings.
Scott has shown a lot of promise in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. In nine starts (40 2/3 innings), Scott holds a 3.10 ERA. Even if it ends up being a minimal stay on the injured list, losing him for any period of time at this juncture is a tough blow.
It is a pivotal point in the schedule for the Mets (32-39), who took two out of three games over the weekend from the first-place Atlanta Braves. They are in a stretch of 22 games over 23 days. They start a three-game series in Cincinnati against the Reds (33-37) on Monday before visiting the Philadelphia Phillies (38-33).
The Mets, 6-6 in June, need to assemble a good run in order to turn their season around with seven weeks left before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. At a minimum, they need to cut into their deficit within the standings, where they’re 5 1/2 games back for the final NL wild-card spot.
Tobias Myers is set to start on Monday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. Myers, however, is not fully stretched out as a starter. The Mets would need to officially recall Myers from Triple A, where he threw 2 2/3 innings (36 pitches) on Thursday.
It is unknown who the Mets would immediately turn to as Scott’s replacement, but rookies Jonah Tong and Zach Thornton are on the 40-man roster as potential candidates. Kodai Senga remains on a rehab assignment. His 30-day window, however, is set to expire on Sunday, meaning the Mets would have to recall him early next week. In his last outing with Double-A Binghamton, Senga threw six innings, allowing one run, one hit and one walk.
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