Now Lugo’s hurt & Gsellman steps in
Pitching injuries continue to be an issue for the Mets, even as they play out the string this season. The latest, announced on Tuesday, is that Seth Lugo has an impingement of the right shoulder, and has been put on the disabled list, retroactive to last Friday. Robert Gsellman will take Lugo’s place and start on Wednesday night against the Yankees.
Gsellman had been pitching in Double-A Binghamton on a rehab assignment, coming back from a hamstring injury suffered June 28.
The righthander made four starts for Binghamton, pitching to a 2.92 ERA after his scoreless innings in his most recent start on Saturday.
Prior to that start, Mets’ GM Sandy Alderson was asked in Philadelphia last week if Gsellman was going to be activated. The GM said no and added, “He needs to start pitching better.”
Gsellman has been a disappointment for the Mets this season, pitching to a 6.16 ERA in 17 games, including 14 starts, before the hamstring injury.
For Lugo, meanwhile, this is second significant arm injury this season. He missed the first two months of the season with what was diagnosed as a tear in his elbow ligament.
A FIRST FOR DOM
Rookie Dominic Smith hit his first major-league home run on, a two-run shot off of Sonny Gray in the seventh inning. The ball just barely got past a leaping Aaron Hicks in left field. Smith’s homer brought the Mets to within two runs, 4-2, and was the first sign of life from a lineup that had been blanked by Gray up to that point. Smith finished the game 1-for3 with his milestone homer and a strikeout. The 22-year-old first baseman is batting .235 with two RBI and three strikeouts since being called-up on Aug. 11.
FAMILIA REHAB
Jeurys Familia will pitch in his first rehab outing on Wednesday in Port St. Lucie. Familia, the Mets’ closer, is recovering from arterial surgery he underwent on May 12th to remove a blood clot in his right shoulder. Matt Harvey will make his second rehab start on Wednesday in Brooklyn, as he pitches his way back from a stress injury to his right scapula. He pitched one inning for Brooklyn on Saturday, giving up one run.
The Mets effectively released reliever Fernando Salas, after designated him for assignment last week. Salas pitched to a 6.00 ERA in 48 appearances this season. The Mets acquired outfielder Travis Snider, once a Blue Jays top prospect, for cash, and assigned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.
WORD ON BIRD
Greg Bird hopes to return to the Yankees sometime next week.
The 24-year-old first baseman will begin his minor-league rehab stint on Wednesday with five innings at first base for Triple-A Scranton. Bird will then alternate between DH and ramping up his innings at first the next few days.
“I’m really excited to just get back, and it’ll be nice to play,” Bird said Tuesday. Bird underwent right ankle surgery in mid-July. He has been limited to 19 games this season, and hasn’t played since May 1.
CC FOR SATURDAY?
Girardi hopes that CC Sabathia (knee) will return from the disabled list and start on Saturday against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Luis Cessa was placed on the DL on Tuesday with a ribcage injury after leaving Monday’s start in the fifth inning.
Sabathia felt encouraged following a 30-pitch bullpen session on Monday.
The 37-year-old lefty will throw another bullpen on Wednesday. If that goes well, he is expected to return to the rotation. Masahiro Tanaka (shoulder) has been playing catch and long-tossing, but there is no timetable for his return.