LOS ANGELES — Michael Tonkin is right back where he started.
The right-handed reliever started the season with the Mets but with the team in need of starting pitching earlier this month, Tonkin became the odd man out. The Mets designated him for assignment April 5 to make room for right-hander Julio Teheran.
It was a tough decision at the time because the Mets have always seen Tonkin as a useful reliever, but as luck would have it, not long after they traded him to the Minnesota Twins, he became available again.
The Mets jumped, claiming him off waivers Wednesday. He was activated Friday for the start of a six-game West Coast swing and is with the team in Los Angeles.
“We’re happy to have him back,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “He knows the situation and he knows it’s a business. He’s ready to go.”
Tonkin had a few tough-luck outings early on, taking losses in back-to-back extra-inning games against the Detroit Tigers in the second series of the season. He allowed eight runs, but only two were earned. The Mets have plenty of available bullpen arms to start the series and now they have a few relievers they’re comfortable getting up and down for multiple innings with Tonkin, right-hander Reed Garrett and left-hander Jake Diekman.
Right-handers Jorge Lopez and Drew Smith can get up and down multiple times, but the Mets tend to save them for high-leverage situations, especially when Brooks Raley (left), Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz are unavailable.
“We had to use him in spots where, probably going into the season, we didn’t anticipate, especially in extra-inning games,” Mendoza said. “This is a guy that’s going to take the ball and he’s gonna give us everything he’s got. That’s why he’s here again, he’s a very, very good competitor, and we like him against righties and lefties.
Left-hander Tyler Jay was designated for assignment Wednesday in a corresponding transaction and was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
BATY DAY-TO-DAY
Brett Baty remains out of the Mets’ lineup for the second straight game.
The third baseman is still dealing with a left hamstring injury that occurred Tuesday night during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Mets are not yet ready to make an injured list transaction. Baty went through a running progression Friday at Dodger Stadium ahead of the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also took grounders and participated in batting practice.
Still, Joey Wendle was in the lineup Friday night batting ninth and playing third base. The Mets are playing shorthanded with Baty considered “day-to-day.”
The Mets would like to use Baty this weekend and are still confident he can avoid the IL, but they need to see how he responds to drills. This is a similar hamstring injury the 24-year-old dealt with last season right before the All-Star break and he was only sidelined for a few days.
The Mets aren’t at a lack of third base options with utility infielders Zack Short and Wendle on the roster, but Baty’s bat is missed. He’s off to a fantastic start hitting .305 with a home run, a double, four walks and a .732 OPS.
“We’ll see if we continue to need to push him back,” Mendoza said. “Then we’ll have those conversations whether it’s worth pushing him this early or not.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Kodai Senga (posterior capsule strain in right shoulder) threw his second bullpen Friday in New York, throwing 26 pitches. The earliest he can be activated off the 60-day injured list is May 27. Tylor Megill (right-shoulder strain) threw a bullpen as well.
David Peterson (offseason hip surgery) has advanced to throwing live batting practice. He’s continuing his rehab in Port St. Lucie.