An Assessment of Injuries: Pitchers

Although the Mets started off the season terrifically with a 13-3 record, injuries have caught up to them. With an 11-17 record since that winning streak, the Mets desperately need some key players to return. In this post I will take a look at the Mets injury situation in the pitching department and go over which pitchers have been the biggest losses thus far.

Vic Black 15-day DL

Injury

Originally went on the Disabled List due to right should tendonitis, but his return was set back in mid/late April when he encountered problems with a herniated disk in his neck.

Expected Return

At this point no timetable has been set for his return, but he has made some significant progress. He threw a bullpen session on May 11th. Since then, he has pitched in 3 games during rehab assignments and pitched in an extended spring training game. A return around June 1st would not be out of the question.

Replacement

His injury (as well as others) opened the door for Buddy Carlyle, Hansel Robles, Erik Goeddel and Sean Gilmartin.

Team Impact

Vic Black's injury was a big loss for the Mets. Last year he was the best in the league at stranding inherited runners (25/26 stranded) while pitching to an ERA of 2.60 over 34.2 IP in 41 appearances. Although Erik Goeddel and Hansel Robles have been good in their short time in the majors, nobody has really stepped up to take Black's role and produce as he did in 2014. The bullpen, which has already been good, should receive a boost when Black returns.

Josh Edgin 60-day DL

Injury

Stretched ligament and bony mass in left elbow. Underwent Tommy John Surgery on March 18th.

Expected Return

With Tommy John Surgery, it's always a solid 12-month recovery, so don't expect Edgin to return until Opening Day 2016 at the earliest. He could return as late as May 2016 if there are any minor setbacks.

Replacement

Jerry Blevins

Team Impact

Jerry Blevins stepped right into the role and dominated. Up to April 19th he had pitched 5 scoreless innings over 7 appearances while not allowing any baserunners. Unfortunately, that leads us to Blevins's injury.

Jerry Blevins 15-day DL

Injury

Broken Forearm (distal radius fracture of left arm)

Expected Return

Blevins has worn a splint on his forearm since the injury and will wear it for a total of 6 weeks. The splint should come off around June 1st. He'll then probably need at least two weeks to rebuild arm strength. His return will come during the middle of June at the earliest.

Replacement

Alex Torres

Team Impact

Alex Torres has picked up right where Blevins left off. Blevins was perfect until his injury, but Torres has pitched well. Although Torres has experienced bouts of wildness at times, his only major hiccup was an Ichiro Suzuki 3-run Home Run. While the injury to Jerry Blevins is obviously disappointing, Alex Torres has certainly numbed the blow.

Bobby Parnell 15-day DL

Injury

Partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in right elbow. Underwent Tommy John Surgery in early April of 2014.

Expected Return

After sitting out all of 2014, he was expected back by late April/early May of 2015, but was shut down on April 24th due to elbow soreness after pitching in some rehab games. He resumed his rehab assignment on May 11th when he pitched for the Class A Advanced St. Lucie Mets. It didn't go so well, as he gave up 3 earned runs in 1 inning of work. Since then, he has made two more rehab assignments and pitched in an extended spring training game, giving up runs in all of them. There is no specific timetable for his return, and with his velocity and control not back to where it should be, it still may be a little while before Bobby returns.

Replacement

Jenrry Mejia (after brief stints from Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth)

Team Impact

The loss of Parnell was big for the Mets. He had pitched to sub-2.50 ERAs in both 2012 and 2013 (with 22 saves in '13), firmly establishing himself as a dependable Closer. Initially after his first and final 2014 appearance on Opening Day, Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth stepped in to close at separate times. With that experiment a failure, the job was given to Jenrry Mejia, and he ran with it. As a reliever in 2014, Jenrry pitched to a 2.72 ERA with 28 saves in 31 opportunities and 60 K's in 56 appearances (56.1 IP). Jenrry never got his chance to continue as Closer in 2015, though.

Jenrry Mejia Restricted

Injury/Suspension

He was placed on the disabled list with posterior inflammation in his right elbow, retroactive to April 5th. A few days later he was suspended 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing drug.

Expected Return

Theoretically, he could rejoin the Mets when his suspension is finished, but he would not be eligible to pitch in the postseason because of MLB's PED policy. Sandy Alderson said: "I hope our bullpen is pitching so well there is no spot for him." So, if the bullpen continues to look good, Mejia may not pitch again in the majors until 2016.

Replacement

Jeurys Familia

Team Impact

Jeurys Familia has stepped right in and pitched very well. Saving 13/14 games while pitching to a 1.77 ERA in 21 appearances (20.1 IP). Jeurys has pitched much better as Closer than Jenrry ever did.

Zack Wheeler 60-day DL

Injury

UCL Tear. Underwent Tommy John Surgery on March 25th.

Expected Return

Exactly like Josh Edgin's timetable for return, don't expect Zack back on the 25-man roster until Opening Day 2016 at the earliest.

Replacement

Dillon Gee

Team Impact

With the Mets extraordinarily deep starting pitching, the Wheeler injury is not as devastating as it may appear. Dillon Gee has stepped into the open slot and pitched well enough (3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 30.1 IP, 5 GS), and with starting pitching prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz on the horizon (and, of course, Rafael Montero), the Mets starting pitching might not be significantly affected by Wheeler's injury.

Rafael Montero 15-day DL

Injury

Right rotator cuff inflammation

Expected Return

At this point, there is no timetable for his return. Although the injury isn't supposed to be serious. On May 11th he was still feeling soreness in his right shoulder, and on May 24th it was reported that he has still not made any significant progress in his recovery. So, a return date is still unknown, and it is even possible that he will head back to AAA when his shoulder is healed.

Replacement

Rafael was sent back down to AAA after his spot start, so there was no vacant spot to fill after his injury.

Team Impact

Rafael's injury has not seriously affected the Mets. After a brief stint as a reliever early in the year, he was sent down and then brought back up to spot start on April 28th. After the game he was placed on the DL. As a spot starter at this point, he has plenty of time to rest up until the Mets really need him later in the season.

Dillon Gee 15-day DL

Injury

Mild groin strain

Expected Return

Dillon pitched 4 innings (54 pitches) for the Class-A Advanced St. Lucie Mets on May 16th in a rehab start. He pitched again for the St. Lucie Mets on May 21st. He did well, with 6.1 IP, 3 hits allowed and 5 K's. He was at first expected to rejoin the Mets against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 22nd-24th, but it has now been decided that he will make one more rehab start before rejoining the Mets. When Gee returns the Mets will temporarily operate with a 6-man rotation.

Replacement

Noah Syndergaard

Team Impact

This injury opened up the door for one of the biggest prospects in the majors: Noah Syndergaard. After dominating the PCL to the tune of a 1.82 ERA in 29 2/3 IP over 5 starts with 34 K's and 8 BBs, Noah made his much-hyped debut on Tuesday, May 12th in Chicago facing the Cubs. He struggled at the end of his first start, in total pitching only 5.1 innings and giving up 3 ER, but bounced back nicely in his second start, with 6 IP and only 1 ER. In his third start he pitched decently over 6 innings, giving up 3 earned runs. Over his first 17.1 IP, Noah has struck out 16 batters. The loss of Gee hasn't been a big loss for the Mets, as Syndergaard has pitched well enough.

Buddy Carlyle 15-day DL

Injury

Lower back injury

Expected Return

As of now, no timetable for his return.

Replacement

Jack Leathersich was called up to fill the vacant bullpen spot.

Team Impact

Even though he recorded the save on Opening Day, Carylye is not an integral part of the Mets bullpen. The Mets won't suffer from his absence; there's a chance that there won't even be a spot open for him in the bullpen by the time he's ready to return.

Conclusion

With the Mets depth of starting pitching, the injuries in that department have not been what has hurt the Mets the most. In fact, the Mets are 6th in the MLB with a 3.62 ERA for starting pitchers. The absence of relievers like Vic Black, Bobby Parnell and Jerry Blevins have been bigger losses, as those 3 pitchers would slot directly into the back of the bullpen to set up Familia. With a placement of 4th in the majors for bullpen ERA at 2.33, the bullpen is performing well.

The main problem has been the offense. The Mets so far have placed 26th in the majors in runs scored with only 161. If the Mets wish to compete for a playoff spot, their offense must improve. Two position player absences have hurt the most: the losses of Travis d'Arnaud and David Wright. The offense should improve greatly after they return. In my next post, I will examine the injuries to position players on the New York Mets.

LGM