PHILADELPHIA — The Mets pitching staff can’t catch a break.
The club finally received results of imaging taken on Max Kranick’s elbow Saturday, with an MRI showing a flexor strain. The right-handed reliever will be shut down for 3-4 weeks before he’s reassessed, and a rehab assignment would follow.
A flexor strain can often be a precursor to an ulnar collateral ligament injury, but Kranick caught a break. Imaging showed no damage to the UCL, which is good news.
“Especially the fact that the ligament is fine,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. “He’s going to be down for quite a bit, but it’s relatively good news here.”
Kranick underwent UCL reconstruction surgery in 2022. After spending the entirety of last season in Triple-A, Kranick was finally back in the big leagues for the first time since Tommy John surgery and was throwing well in a long relief role. A hard-throwing 27-year-old, Kranick posted a 3.65 ERA over 24 games (37 innings), throwing three innings once and throwing 1.0+ 14 other times.
Right-hander Dedniel Nuñez is expected to step into a similar role, but it’s more likely the Mets use him for 4-5 outs.
Ahead of his Tuesday start, Frankie Montas threw a bullpen Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. The veteran right-hander will make his big league Mets debut Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, but there is some apprehension given the severity of the lat strain he suffered in spring training, and the poor numbers he posted during his minor league rehab assignment.
However, he appears to be in good health. The Mets are hoping that once he gets on a big league mound again, the adrenaline and game atmosphere will give him the boost he needs to shut down a big league lineup.
“He’s physically fine, he’s strong and ready to go,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “He’s excited to be back and can’t wait to help us win baseball games.”
The reports following left-hander Sean Manaea’s Saturday rehab start were positive. If all goes well, the Mets could have him back after his next minor league start.
With Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill both injured, the starting pitching depth has been depleted, but the returns of Montas and Manaea will restore much of it.
“The feedback was good, with the breaking ball especially,” Mendoza said. “He threw a lot of strikes, got swings and misses, was pitch efficient. Got up to the sixth inning with 62 pitches, I think he was. So he’s got one more, and then we’ll see if he’s ready to come up and join the team after that.”
Roster moves were made Saturday to get fresh arms for the bullpen. Right-hander Blade Tidwell was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after starting Friday night, and right-hander Justin Garza was as well after throwing 2.0 innings in relief. Right-handers Chris Devenski and Tyler Zuber were called up to take their spots on the roster.
Both relievers are with the team in Philadelphia and active for Saturday night’s game against the Phillies.
