Nimmo is sent down for pen pal
MIAMI — Brandon Nimmo was a victim of the Mets’ bullpen’s heavy workload. The outfielder was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday as the Mets added one of their top pitching prospects, Corey Oswalt. “Obviously our bullpen has been throwing a lot and we wanted to make sure we were protected and gave ourselves a chance to win,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said before the Mets’ 8-6 win at Marlins Park Tuesday. “It’s a tough break for Nimmo. He deserves to be here, he handled the news unbelievable. What a guy. He’s a winning player, he’s going to help us for a long, long time. So it’s tough but we felt like it was necessary.”
With the need for an extra arm and five outfielders on the roster, Nimmo was the odd man out despite going 3-for-9 with a double and four walks in six games. Oswalt warmed up but never got into the game Tuesday night. He was optioned back to Las Vegas after the game to make room for Zack Wheeler, who will start Wednesday night.
Working a perfect ninth, Jeurys Familia became the seventh closer in MLB history to have six saves in the first 10 games of a season.
ZACK IS BACK
After being sent to the minors this spring, Wheeler was back preparing to make a spot start on Wednesday for the Mets. Brought up to make the spot start because Jason Vargas is on the DL, Wheeler was the odd-man out in a battle for a rotation spot in spring training. When Vargas comes back, the numbers won’t be in Wheeler’s favor. He pitched well in his only start at Triple-A, allowing one run on three hits in five innings. “I think he did a really good job of honing in on some things he needed to work on,” Mickey Callaway said. “It sounds like he did a good job with those. I think you’re going to see a confident Wheeler out there tomorrow.”
After a setback-filled, two-year rehab after 2015 Tommy John surgery, Wheeler changed his delivery to try to take some stress off his elbow. He shortened what had been a long and deceptive delivery that went back far down and then over. In spring training, that resulted in Wheeler struggling to get some pitches like his curveball over. Without the pressure of trying to win a roster spot, Wheeler said he’s been able to get more comfortable with it.
LAGARES AGAINST LEFTIES
Callaway, who said he will use Juan Lagares against lefty starters, rested Jay Bruce and moved Michael Conforto to right to put Lagares in center Tuesday. Lagares went 0-for-3 with a sac fly.
SPURRIER COURTING TEBOW
Former Florida Gators coach Steve Spurrier extended an offer to former Heisman Trophy winner and current Mets minor league outfielder Tim Tebow to join him with the Orlando franchise of the new Alliance American Football League. “That would be wonderful,” Spurrier said of Tebow joining his team on the “Open Mike” radio show Monday, according to the Orlando Sun-Sentinel. “I think Tim knows about our league. He knows he’s welcome to come down (to Orlando) and play.
“Obviously, if his baseball career is going well, he may decide to stick with it, which I would certainly understand. But if it doesn’t go too well and he has the urge to play football, we would certainly welcome him in Orlando.”
Tebow, who is playing for Double-A Binghamton, is “completely” committed to baseball at this time, according to sources close to the former Jets quarterback.