The Mets announced a series of roster moves before this evening’s game against the Braves. As expected, outfielder Michael Conforto has been activated from the injured list. He is in tonight’s lineup, hitting third while playing right field. Right-handers Tylor Megill (previously reported) and Corey Oswalt have been officially selected to the roster. (Andy Martino of SNY reported that Oswalt would be promoted before the official announcement).
Righties Yennsy Díaz and Sean Reid-Foley were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, while catcher Tomás Nido has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 22, due to a right wrist contusion. To clear 40-man roster space for Megill and Oswalt, pitchers Joey Lucchesi and Robert Gsellman were transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.
Conforto has been out since May 17 with a hamstring strain. He’ll return to the lineup for the first time in more than a month, looking to improve upon his early-season output. Conforto, who hit .261/.365/.478 between 2018-20, started this season a bit slowly by his standards. Across 135 plate appearances, the left-handed hitter managed a .230/.356/.336 line that’s been only slightly better than league average, a drop-off from his high-end production in prior years. The next few months will be pivotal for Conforto, who is scheduled to reach free agency at the end of the season.
Oswalt becomes the latest addition to a pitching staff that has been hit hard by injuries. The 27-year-old appeared for the Mets in each season from 2018-20, working to a composite 6.19 ERA/4.83 SIERA across 84 1/3 innings. He served as something of a flexible swing option, starting 13 of his 23 MLB appearances.
New York passed Oswalt through outright waivers in February, and he’s spent the 2021 season with Syracuse. He’s made six appearances, none of which has eclipsed 3 1/3 innings, working mostly as a multi-inning reliever. Given that he hasn’t really been stretched out this year, Oswalt seems more likely to serve as long relief depth than as a true starter, although it’s possible he could work as an opener or tandem starter of some sort. Megill, on the other hand, has worked as a more traditional starter in the minors and is ticketed to start tonight’s game against Atlanta.
Gsellman went on the IL with a lat strain earlier this week, and he never seemed especially likely to return anytime soon. General manager Zack Scott told reporters (including Tim Britton of the Athletic) that Gsellman won’t even begin a throwing program for at least six weeks. That likely ruled him out until late August at the earliest, so there’s little reason for the Mets not to transfer the righty to the 60-day IL with the need for 40-man roster space. Lucchesi, meanwhile, will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow and miss the rest of the year (and most or all of 2022).
Nido has tallied 91 plate appearances this season, hitting at a passable .238/.297/.393 clip. A recent MRI on his injured wrist didn’t reveal any structural damage, manager Luis Rojas told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) this afternoon. Nevertheless, it seems he’ll need a few days to recuperate. Patrick Mazeika is on hand to back up starter James McCann in the interim.
Canosucks
I get it but Corey Oswalt ugh! give Tropeano a shot first
Cosmo2
Yea I’ve seen enough of Oswalt
phenomenalajs
Now, if they could get Roy Oswalt (no relation, to my knowledge) in his prime, that would be special.
The Baseball Fan
My fantasy team has seen enough.
Oldschoolandthemets1980
Rather see them throw a position player instead of Oswalt lol
MrMet62
Corey Oswalt- batting practice pitcher to the world!
@DaOldDerbyBastard
Looked good tonight.
Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey
“You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me.”
– Corey Oswalt, 2o21
Colt 45
that is sooooooo good
MarlinsFanBase
That is great!
DarkSide830
10/10
TradeAcuna
The Mets have been the luckiest team in the league this year.
jyosuckas
Unlucky as far as injuries are concerned but if you mean lucky in how they’re in first place through it all then you’re spot on
rct
In terms of injuries, they’ve been one of the most unlucky teams in the league.
However, I assume you’re talking about them not being as good as their record is. According to B-Ref’s ‘Luck’ stat, Mets are actually middle of the pack. Luck is measured by comparing a team’s actual record against their Pyth record (basically, the team’s run differential). By this metric, they’re nowhere close to the luckiest team in the league.
Metsin777
Whenever you need a hit expect Conforto to strikeout. Gets all his homeruns when the Mets are already down or up by 10 runs
When it was a game.
While I would agree somehow in this walk year and missing a month I think he steps up his game. Good player but always got the feeling he plays baseball because he’s good at it and makes him rich and not for love of the game.
MarlinsFanBase
Have Ron Kulpa umpire all your games, and he’ll help Conforto out.
@DaOldDerbyBastard
Looked good tonight.
its_happening
Or hit in the arm to block a strike.
Colt 45
My gosh finally this site has a post about a Met injury or personnel move
MarlinsFanBase
You must’ve missed the offseason. Almost every single day there was a “Mets interested in [fill in name of player]” article posted.
Bill M
You must’ve missed the sarcasm
@DaOldDerbyBastard
Right over your head, marlin.
iamhector24
It went over his head because he just sits on this site to hate on every Mets post. Pure obsession.
MarlinsFanBase
Yeah, it was me who missed the sarcasm and the follow up sarcasm.
Please continue.
jwt421
9.5 games back of the Mets and 12.5 out of the wildcard, but keep posting on every Mets story. After all, your season is about done.
And since it’s a favorite narrative to say the Mets aren’t competitive against other teams expect when playing against the Rockies and Diamondbacks, let’s compare the Mets to the Marlins:
–Marlins are 7-3 against the Rockies and Diamondbacks and 24-40 against everyone else.
–The Mets are 10-3 against the Rockies and Diamondbacks and 28-28 against everyone else.
The Marlins are a bad team this year and are competing to be the second worst team in the NL. Their only saving grace is that the Diamondbacks are on pace to tie the 62 Mets with 120 losses.
OMG Egon Spengler Is 16!
BRO WOW I THOUGHT IT SAID MICHAEL CUDDYER FOR A MINUTE!!!!! WOW BRO BEING HIGH ON CATNIP IS CRAZY MAN
When it was a game.
FYI you have cap locks on.
Technically correct
That’s what we in the internet baseball community call an extreme shift.
jim stem
Megill looked solid. Oswald has his positives as well. Diaz didn’t look all that good, but he also probably wasn’t ready after Stroman exited unexpectedly. Diaz was a starter with some potential up until 2019, so it looks like two scheduled bullpen games per week featuring some combination of Megill, Reid-Foley, Oswalt and Diaz. Probably add Szupucki in the mix shortly.
Right now, we just need healthy arms to eat innings until the break. If we can go .500 until then, that’s a major positive.
jwt421
Having Conforto and McNeil back in the lineup and approaching their historical batting profiles will help. While the sample size is only one, the Mets were a different team offensively on Wednesday. Getting Nimmo back in the leadoff spot will only help more. The current pitching staff with all the injuries cannot maintain what they have been doing since mid-May.
And while I’m still not sold that Lindor has figured out his batting issues, his last 28 days are in-line with his career totals:
Last 28 days – .272/.343/.533 OPS.876
Career – .280/.343/.479 OPS .822
Barring a collapse like the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the Mets should be in the hunt until the end of the season.