Wacha season fizzles in final start
Michael Wacha’s disappointing season for the Mets concluded with a thud.
The veteran right-hander was on the verge of respectability Wednesday, after allowing only two runs over the first five innings of his start against the Rays, but then watched Randy Arozarena blast a two-run homer in the sixth inning. The Mets never caught up in an 8-5 loss in their home finale.
Wacha, who arrived last winter on an incentive-laden, one-year contract worth $3 million, holds a 6.62 ERA in eight appearances this season. Unless he’s needed from the bullpen this weekend in Washington, he likely has pitched his last game for the club.
“I haven’t really had time to sit back and think about the season,” Wacha said. “I know it’s been a crazy one. I spent a little time on the [injured list] and I worked my tail off to get back out here with the team and just a lot of stuff going into it.”
The highlight of Wacha’s season might have come last week in Philadelphia, when he surrendered one run over four innings in relief allowing the Mets to rebound for a victory after Jacob deGrom left the game early.
➤ Miguel Castro pitched a scoreless seventh, lowering his ERA to 3.12 in nine appearances with the Mets. The right-hander has 11 strikeouts, without allowing an earned run, in his last five appearances.
➤ Dellin Betances was activated from the injured list before the game, with Corey Oswalt optioned to the Mets’ alternate training site. Betances had been on the injured list since Aug. 30 with a right lat strain. The righty pitched through discomfort for much of this season before going on the IL.
➤ Tomas Nido was scheduled to travel with the Mets to Washington as part of the “bubble” for potential postseason teams before the start of next week’s playoffs. But it’s unclear if the Mets plan to add Nido as a third catcher. Nido had been working out in Brooklyn in recent weeks after an IL stint that followed a Mets player and coach testing positive for COVID-19 in August. With Nido sidelined, the Mets traded for veteran Robinson Chirinos to serve as Wilson Ramos’ backup.