The New York Mets are battling to keep their playoff hopes alive as they hold on to the final National League wild-card spot. With 10 games remaining and a 1 1/2-game lead, they’ll have to do it without right-hander Reed Garrett.
The Mets announced Thursday they placed Garrett on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain, effectively ending his regular season. While a postseason return hasn’t been ruled out, his status is in doubt.
Garrett had just come back from the IL after dealing with elbow inflammation in the same arm. When available, he has been a steady option out of the bullpen, posting a 3.90 ERA over 55 1/3 innings with 64 strikeouts — an average of 10.4 per nine innings — giving manager Carlos Mendoza a swing-and-miss weapon.
In other moves, the Mets designated Dom Hamel for assignment and selected the contract of Wander Suero, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.
To reinforce the bullpen, New York recalled Chris Devenski and Huascar Brazoban from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets also placed left-handed starter Sean Manaea, who earned the win Wednesday, on the paternity list.
The timing of Garrett’s injury is far from ideal with the regular season winding down. New York remains favored to secure the final wild-card spot, but his absence could loom larger in October. Trade-deadline acquisition Ryan Helsley has steadied after a rough start, tossing scoreless outings in three of his past four appearances.
The Mets will lean on him, along with Gregory Soto, Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz, to hold off challengers for the NL’s last playoff spot.