Surprising bullpen hopeful makes case

PORT ST. LUCIE — Jacob Rhame is among the players with a vested interest in the number of relievers the Mets will carry to begin the season.

As it stands, manager Mickey Callaway has indicated he is undecided whether he will carry seven or eight relievers. If the number is eight, the Mets will employ a four-man bench.

The 25-year-old Rhame, who arrived in August as the player to be named later in the trade that sent Curtis Granderson to the Dodgers, pitched a scoreless eighth inning in the Mets’ 12-5 victory over the Nationals on Thursday. The righthander has posted a 3.60 ERA in 10 appearances this spring.

“I feel like the majority of the time I have shown them I am able to throw strikes,” Rhame said.

Jeurys Familia, AJ Ra- mos, Anthony Swarzak and Jerry Blevins are locks for the bullpen, and Paul Sewald has solidified a spot. That leaves Rhame in a mix with Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo (who is also a rotation option), Hansel Robles and perhaps Zack Wheeler for the final two or three spots in the bullpen.

Callaway is intent on finding as many atbats as possible this season for Wilmer Flores, who has experience at all four infield positions. Flores hit seven homers in 103 at-bats last season against lefties.

“[Flores] is going to play,” Callaway said. “It might be a different position every day or the same position three days in a row, but my goal is to get him starting as much as possible.

“We are going to be able to do that because guys need days off and Wilmer deserves to play and not just against lefties. He can hit a good right-handed pitcher, too, so he’s going to play.”