MLB

Brooks Raley placed on IL with elbow inflammation in Mets injury blow

By
Social Links for Mike Puma
Published April 21, 2024, 4:26 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES — A key member of the Mets’ bullpen is lost for at least the next two weeks.

Brooks Raley was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with elbow inflammation, depriving the Mets of their primary left-handed reliever.

“It’s one of those where he wasn’t recovering well after every outing for the last week or so,” manager Carlos Mendoza said following the Mets’ 10-0 loss to the Dodgers. “There were a couple of times we tried to stay away from him and didn’t use him.”

Mets relief pitcher Brooks Raley was placed on the IL
Mets relief pitcher Brooks Raley was placed on the IL JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Raley had an MRI exam on Saturday (which revealed the swelling), a day after he pitched two-thirds of an inning against the Dodgers. He received an injection Sunday, according to Mendoza.

“This is something, we got relatively good news here,” Mendoza said. “So it shouldn’t be more than hopefully the two weeks.”

In eight appearances this season, Raley has not allowed an earned run, with nine strikeouts and three walks in seven innings.

Raley’s injury leaves Jake Diekman as the lone left-handed option in the bullpen.

The Mets recalled right-hander Grant Hartwig from Triple-A Syracuse to take Raley’s roster spot. Hartwig pitched two innings Sunday and allowed two earned runs.

Francisco Alvarez took it hard upon learning he had torn a ligament in his left thumb that would require surgery.

For sure, it was a freak accident — the Mets catcher slipped rounding first base on Friday and jammed the thumb — but the knowledge he would be sidelined for six to eight weeks after surgery was difficult to accept.

“My reaction was bad,” Alvarez said. “I was mad at myself.”

The injury is similar to one Brett Baty sustained late in the 2022 season that cost him the final month. Baty underwent surgery to repair a ligament in the thumb and was hopeful of returning for the NLCS if the Mets advanced that far.

In a best-case scenario, Alvarez — who is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday, with Dr. Steven Shin performing the procedure in Los Angeles — would return by early June. He said he’s already spoken to Baty about what he should expect in his rehab.

“We talked a little bit the next day and he told me to be patient, sometimes when he started to hit it hurt his thumb a little bit and don’t be frustrated, it’s normal,” Alvarez said. “The first month is going to be hard to hit because you feel the impact.

“[Baty] told me it’s a very quick surgery, very quick time and recovery. I feel good for that. I think I can be back soon.”

The Mets are hopeful J.D. Martinez will be activated on Friday, according to Mendoza. The veteran DH, who has been receiving at-bats for Low-A St. Lucie, will shift to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

Sean Reid-Foley worked out with the team before the game and is a possibility to be removed from the IL on Monday and selected to the roster.