Bassitt heads to IL after positive COVID test: source
Chris Bassitt was placed on the injured list by the Mets ahead of their Friday night game against the Rangers, the team announced. Left-hander David Peterson took Bassitt’s place on Friday. Peterson last pitched on June 26 in Miami, so he remained on normal rest in between starts.
The Mets did not provide an injury or a diagnosis for Bassitt, but a source confirmed his absence is due to a positive test for COVID-19. Players are not required a minimum stay on the COVID IL, so it’s possible Bassitt can return to the rotation in time for his next scheduled start.
“I talked to him yesterday, he’s obviously frustrated,” said Buck Showalter, adding it could be 5-10 days before Bassitt returns to the team. “It is what it is.”
Bassitt lands on the IL with a 6-5 record and 4.01 ERA across 15 starts and 89.2 innings.
Showalter alluded to Bassitt’s positive COVID test throughout his Friday pregame press conference. The skipper said he found out Bassitt was dealing with symptoms on Wednesday. The Mets then began making plans for Peterson to pitch in place of Bassitt. In that way, Showalter said, the southpaw had at least one day to prepare for his Friday start.
The Houston Astros recently dealt with a bout of the virus. Three coaches were out due to what the Astros termed “health and safety protocols,” which is the terminology Houston uses in place of COVID-19. The Astros were in New York to play the Yankees and Mets from June 23-29.
“It’s going on all over baseball, but it’s going on all over society and life in general,” Showalter said. “If we did the math, we’re probably ahead of the curve in a lot of ways. I was looking at teams, who’s had the most cases and who’s had the least. It’s kind of interesting.”
Adding another wrinkle to the Mets rotation situation, Peterson is expecting his first child to be born any day this week, according to those familiar with his wife’s pregnancy. Showalter said Peterson will likely leave the team to be with his wife following his Friday night start at Citi Field.
“We’re prepared if he gets a phone call,” Showalter said. “We have to be – like, even 10 minutes from now. There will be another curveball around the corner I’m sure.”
Trevor May (right triceps stress reaction) was cleared to get back on the mound following his most recent tests. This week, images showed that May’s stress reaction was completely healed, so the right-hander can begin rehabbing and throwing with more intensity. May is still on track to return to the bullpen at the All-Star break.
“Big deal,” Showalter said of May’s progression. “He’s a big piece of our bullpen. Would really love the idea of getting him back. It will be good to get Trevor back in our ‘pen.”
Showalter was so outwardly excited for May to return because it’s no secret that the Mets bullpen needs help. Mets relievers have a 3.70 ERA on the season, ranked 13th in MLB. But in June, the Mets relief corps posted a 4.13 ERA, ranked 19th in the big leagues. The Yankees bullpen leads MLB with a 2.71 ERA and the Astros are right behind them with a 2.73 ERA.
May hit the injured list on May 3 after just eight relief appearances this season. He has a 8.64 ERA in that span, though the results are a bit shadowed by the triceps injury that he pitched through in at least a couple of those outings. If May can put his stress reaction completely behind him for the second half, he will be a major addition to a struggling relief unit. But the Mets front office will still need to make bullpen additions ahead of MLB’s Aug. 2 trade deadline with or without May’s potential success.
METSCELLANEOUS
The Mets said they will provide an update on Jacob deGrom (right scapula stress reaction) on Saturday. The ace completed his third live batting practice on Wednesday at Port St. Lucie. He ramped up to 27 pitches in that session, and is expected to begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend.
Following their day off on Thursday, the Mets on Friday began a stretch of 17 games in 17 days to finish out the first half of the season before the July 18 All-Star break. The Amazin’s have played the fifth-fewest home games in the National League and are tied for the third-most road games. By comparison, the Braves are tied for the most home games in the NL. That homeroad schedule will even out for the Mets in the second half of the season.