The Mets got just two starts out of Tylor Megill before he landed back on the injured list.
Megill underwent an MRI on Friday morning that revealed a right shoulder strain. He will be shut down from throwing for a minimum of four weeks, after which he will be re-evaluated.
“I’m hoping the 29th day, he’s throwing,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “That would be good news. When you’re talking about the shoulder, when I heard the four weeks, I was actually kind of upbeat about it. We’ll take some steps and see whether there are things that we can possibly do to speed up the process.”
Following Megill’s placement on the 15-day IL, the Mets called up fan-favorite right-hander Tommy Hunter and right-handed reliever Adonis Medina. Right-hander Jake Reed was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, and infielder Gosuke Katoh was designated for assignment.
Megill first felt shoulder pain in the fourth inning of his start against the Brewers on Thursday. It was just his second start back from the IL. Megill had been dealing with right biceps tendinitis since early May, which caused him to miss five starts in the rotation.
The Mets will rely on left-hander David Peterson and spot starter Trevor Williams to get them through these next few weeks before Max Scherzer and/or Jacob deGrom return to the rotation.
Scherzer, who is ahead of deGrom on his rehab schedule, may be cleared to return as soon as the end of this month. DeGrom’s timeline remains unclear, but the two-time Cy Young winner has continued to slowly ramp up and he shouldn’t be too far behind Scherzer.
“The problem is we’ve been having to move some guys back and forth, so it’s hard to stretch a lot of guys out,” Showalter said of his pitching depth.
Peterson is already a part of the starting five, pitching in replacement for one of the team’s injured aces, but the southpaw is also expecting his first child sometime in the coming days. The Mets may have a new rotation problem once Peterson goes on paternity leave. To add another wrinkle, all MLB clubs will be forced on Monday to trim their rosters to no more than 13 pitchers, one less than the current 14-pitcher allowance.
Williams is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA across five starts (20 innings), along with 14 strikeouts against two walks, for the Mets this season. As a reliever, the righty owns a 2.30 ERA and has recorded 19 strikeouts in seven appearances (15.2 innings).
ON THE MEND
Travis Jankowski (left 4th metacarpal fracture) has felt no hand pain since his late-May surgery. The Mets’ backup outfielder said he is aiming to come off the IL and rejoin the team in the first week of July. In the meantime, Jankowski said he’s “playing baseball with one hand.” He’s been able to run, throw and catch with his right hand, and keep up with his daily routine otherwise.
Now, Jankowski is waiting for a big test on Tuesday, which will reveal how much the bone in his finger has healed, before he can begin strengthening and playing with more intensity. Jankowski expects to begin a rehab assignment before this month is over.
“I think the worst is when the team goes on the road,” Jankowski said of his rehab. “You’re just sitting there watching the games. You want to be with the guys, grinding, and doing all the stuff with them.
“But you know what, it’s a bad situation and you gotta make the best out of it. I’d be lying if there weren’t days that just flat out sucked, but I think for the most part, with the group of guys that we have back rehabbing, there’s a lot of positive vibes.”
TOMMY’S BACK
Tommy Hunter returned to the Mets clubhouse on Friday and was activated to the roster before their nightcap against the Marlins. Hunter pitched in four games (one start) for the Amazin’s in 2021, with his signature moment coming in Atlanta following his first big-league hit in his 476th career game.
Hunter, 35, underwent back surgery last summer after the Mets traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Rich Hill. Mets GM Billy Eppler acquired Hunter through free agency in late April. Hunter posted a 4.61 ERA with 14 strikeouts and two home runs allowed across eight relief outings and 13.2 innings for Triple-A Syracuse.
“It took him a while to get going down there,” said Showalter, who also managed Hunter when the righty played for the Orioles. “None of us are what we were at 25. But Tommy’s knowledge of pitching and ability to do things that we’re in need of. We’ll see.”
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Source: Berkshire mont
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