WILMER, AJ LAND ON DL
Pair struggled in Milwaukee
ATLANTA — As expected, Wilmer Flores and AJ Ramos were placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday morning. The MRI on Ramos’ right shoulder showed tendinitis, Mickey Callaway said. The Mets manager said Flores, who left Sunday’s game with lower-back soreness, had not been seen by team doctors yet, but the issue was bad enough that the Mets just “went ahead and put him,” on the DL.
The Mets recalled Phil Evans to help with the bench while Flores and Todd Frazier are on the disabled list. They added left-hander P.J. Conlon to the roster on Sunday to bolster an already taxed bullpen and brought in Gerson Bautista as the 26th man for the scheduled split doubleheader against the Braves.
The Mets also activated catcher Kevin Plawecki and right-hander Hansel Robles off the disabled list. Plawecki had been on the DL since April 12 with a hairline fracture of his left hand.
“It was a frustrating process, a slow one, initially when it first happened I was being optimistic. I mentally just tried to tell myself it was going to be quick,” Plawecki said. “Unfortunately it wasn’t as quick as I wanted it to be. Happy it’s healed and happy to be back with the guys.”
Robles was on the DL with a sprained right knee since May 11.
Ramos has been struggling to find the strike zone all season, but this weekend, Callaway said was particularly bad. Ramos allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in .2 of an inning Saturday. On Friday, he threw nine pitches and found the strike zone on just one. He walked back-to-back hitters to force in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. Scouts at the two games noticed that Ramos was “yanking,” his pitches.
In 28 appearances, Ramos has allowed 24 earned runs and issued 15 walks over 19.2 innings.
Flores’ back issue manifest itself in trouble throwing from third. He struggled on a throw to first in the third inning Sunday and left the game shortly after.
VARGAS PLANS VAGUE
Jason Vargas is heading to the bullpen. For one day at least.
The veteran left-hander was available to pitch in relief during Monday’s doubleheader. He volunteered for duty with the pen taxed since Monday was his regular day to throw in the bullpen.
“I know we have a long day ahead of us,” Vargas said. “I just said let’s skip the bullpen and I’ll be available if they need me. I'll go out and throw a little bit, but be ready if we need some innings."
Callaway was vague on the plans beyond Monday.
“At this moment, yes, he’s available today and then we’ll see,” Callaway said.
After Vargas lasted just three innings on Saturday, Callaway said the struggling hurler would definitely make his next scheduled start on Thursday. Assistant GM John Ricco, however, said the plans were still being discussed.
“I think he can be successful in that bullpen if that’s what we needed him to do,” Ricco said. “We’d prefer him to be a starter. That’s what we signed him for.”
In five starts, Vargas has allowed 24 earned runs over 20.1 innings (10.62 ERA) and taxed the bullpen.