SAN DIEGO — Even big leaguers aren’t immune to flight delays.
The Mets had planned to activate right-hander Dedniel Nuñez on Thursday ahead of their series against the San Diego Padres, but the reliever ran into travel problems after throwing in a rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse. Nuñez was unable to get a flight to New York on Wednesday before the team departed Queens for San Diego, which left them unable to evaluate him.
Nuñez met the team in Southern California instead.
“He didn’t fly with the team, and we needed our trainers to check him out,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday at Petco Park. “We wanted to see him play catch and just talk to him face-to-face.”
Nuñez was given the green light to return to action. The Mets anticipate activating him Friday for the second game of a four-game series. However, they’ll need to make a roster move.
The Mets have plenty of struggling relievers they could replace, but choosing one isn’t an easy decision.
Danny Young, Reed Garrett and Huascar Brazobán have minor league options. Young is the only left-hander and he’s done well enough to warrant a roster spot. Garrett, however, has struggled in three outings since returning from the injured list, allowing three earned runs in three innings, blowing a lead against Oakland and taking a loss against Miami.
“I think he’s been fine,” Mendoza said of Garrett. “The first time out, he threw the ball well. Then, I think it was the second and the third one when he lost the strike zone a little bit there, especially with the splitter. But I think the velo is there and the movement of his pitches is there. He’s feeling well, so he’s in a good spot.”
Garrett struck out the side against Seattle after dealing with elbow inflammation for most of July. The 31-year-old journeyman reliever looked like an undervalued gem early in the season when he went 10 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run over his first six outings. But Garrett hit a snag in May and struggled again in June. He allowed three earned runs in only 2/3 of an inning in the last outing he made before going on the injured list.
The Mets seem to trust Garrett in high-leverage innings more than veteran right-hander Adam Ottavino. The 38-year-old has mostly been pitching in losses or with large leads as of late, having lost his setup role. The Mets acquired Ryne Stanek from the Seattle Mariners at the deadline to replace Ottavino in that role, but he’s had a few big blowups.
Still, six of Stanek’s eight appearances with the Mets have been scoreless. It would seem silly for the Mets to cut ties with a veteran they traded for less than a month ago, but shrewder moves have been made.
Phil Maton, Jose Butto and Edwin Diaz have been the most reliable relievers in the bullpen. The Mets are likely to loosen the reins on the usage of those three and a few others now that they’re in the thick of the NL Wild Card race.
“We protected those guys for a long time now,” Mendoza said. “We’re in a position where we have to go.”
UNDER PRESSURE
Much has been made about this part of the Mets’ schedule that features four games in San Diego and three in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, who are right behind the Padres in the Wild Card standings, and for good reason. This 10-game road trip, which ends in Chicago against the White Sox, could decide the Mets’ fate this season.
The Mets aren’t trying to add any extra pressure to themselves. Mendoza and the clubhouse leaders are trying to take a measured approach to keep them focused on the task at hand.
“We know where we are, we know the importance of every game, we know the teams we’re playing,” Mendoza said. “But that doesn’t change the way we go about our business, the way we prepare and the way we want to go out and compete.”
LINEUP MANEUVERING
DH J.D. Martinez, right fielder Starling Marte and center fielder Harrison Bader were out of action Thursday. It was a scheduled day off for Martinez, after the Mets reversed course on his planned off-day Wednesday when the Baltimore Orioles were forced to call up another pitcher to take the start for injured Zach Eflin.
Bader hasn’t had a hit since Aug. 14, though Mendoza seemed reluctant to say he sat Bader for performance reasons. With Marte, the benching was for load management.