Lugo lands on IL with shoulder tendinitis

Buried in the avalanche of news on Monday afternoon was an injury that resulted in a major blow to the Mets bullpen.

Seth Lugo was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder tendinitis prior to the Mets’ series opener against the Nationals at Citi Field.

In corresponding moves, the Mets purchased the contract of right-hander Hector Santiago from Triple-A Syracuse and placed infielder Jed Lowrie on the 60-day injured list.

The right-handed Lugo had established himself as an anchor in the Mets bullpen. He gave up a home run in his last appearance against the Marlins Sunday, breaking up a 12.1 scoreless innings streak.

Lugo said the plan is to take a break from throwing for a few games. He compared the biceps soreness to an injury he

experienced in 2017, when he missed about two weeks of playing time.

From April 22 to May 14, Lugo had allowed just four hits with 16 strikeouts for the Mets. The 29-year-old has posted a 1.62 ERA with 29 strikeouts since April 7, an impressive turnaround after giving up nine runs (five earned) in his first four outings of the year.

Lugo’s performance out of the ‘pen was a key reason Mets relievers entered Monday holding the lowest May ERA (1.89) in the majors. The Mets bullpen entered the series opener having allowed four runs in its last 25 innings. Mets relievers have allowed just two home runs in their last 45.2 innings.

ROBBY CANO-GO

Robinson Cano did not start against the Nationals on Monday for a variety of reasons, Mickey Callaway said. Cano did deliver a pinch-hit double in the sixth inning of the Mets’ win.

The first reason he didn’t start was that left-handed Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Nationals. Cano is batting just .133 (6-for-45) against lefties this season.

Cano’s absence from the starting lineup was also due to his lack of hustle during the series in Miami this weekend in which the Marlins swept the Mets. That goes against what Callaway said on Sunday.

“He understands that it’s unacceptable to (not) run balls out,” Callaway said on Monday. “He understands he needs to do that at all times, as do all of our players. That’s just something we expect.”

During Cano’s pinch-hit double Monday, he ran the fastest he has from home to second base in three years, per Statcast.

“It should’ve been, it better have been,” Callaway said of Cano’s speedier baserunning. “I guess he got the hint.”

Cano seemed to think the reason he was out of the starting lineup Monday was due to the Mets’ tough schedule of 20 games in 20 days. The the second baseman also said Callaway never spoke to him about part of the reasoning for the day off being Cano’s lack of hustle.

“We didn’t get into the details,” Cano said.

CONFORTO UPDATE

Outfielder Michael Conforto is recovering from a concussion on the seven-day injured list.

“We saw him earlier today,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said on Monday. “We’re awaiting a couple of tests today for what activities will be able to be done today and tomorrow. He’s symptom-free for the last three days, which is good.”

Conforto collided with Cano on Thursday in Washington. Both players were attempting to field a pop up off the bat of Howie Kendrick when Conforto’s head slammed into Cano’s shoulder.