Drew Smith’s return presents Mets with tough roster decision

MILWAUKEE — Drew Smith’s anticipated return from the injured record on Tuesday has the Mets dealing with a doubtlessly powerful roster query. 

“How would you make room for him?” supervisor Buck Showalter requested rhetorically earlier than the Mets confronted the Brewers. 

Barring an IL stint for a pitcher, the Mets will probably have to decide on between optioning David Peterson to Triple-A Syracuse and designating veteran Tommy Hunter for task. The Mets optioned relievers Stephen Nogosek and Alex Claudio to Syracuse earlier than Monday’s 7-2 win to clear roster area for Max Scherzer and Tylor Megill. 

Scherzer pitched six good innings and struck out 9 in his return from the IL. 

Peterson pitched 2 ¹/₃ innings in reduction on Saturday as he auditions for a possible second left-hander’s function within the bullpen heading to the postseason. Hunter has appeared largely in low-leverage reduction roles this season and pitched to a 2.42 ERA. 

“We now have received some well being issues we're going to take a look at and who's going to be wholesome,” Showalter stated, noting that reliever Mychal Givens (COVID-restricted record) will return from the IL earlier than the season concludes. 

Drew Smith
Drew Smith’s return presents the Mets a troublesome choice.
Robert Sabo for the NY POST

Smith will likely be coming back from a lat pressure that has saved him sidelined since late July. 

“Drew was one among our higher reduction pitchers,” Showalter stated. “We’ll see if he can regain that type.” 


Showalter stated it was nonetheless beneath dialogue on how Megill can be utilized from the bullpen. The correct-hander struggled in his closing two rehab appearances for Syracuse, however Showalter indicated it wasn’t a trigger for concern. 

“I feel the most important concern was well being,” Showalter stated earlier than Megill pitched an inning and gave up two runs on two hits whereas hanging out one towards the Brewers on Monday. 


The Mets entered play with a .597 highway successful proportion this season, which ranked third in franchise historical past. Solely the 1986 and ’69 groups (.654 and .600, respectively) personal higher highway successful percentages. Each these groups received the World Sequence. The Mets haven’t reached 45 highway victories since 2007. They have been inside one win of matching that whole as Monday’s play started. 


Mark Canha (0-for-3) entered play with 21 hit by pitches, one in need of the franchise file set by Brandon Nimmo (1-for-4) in 2018. Total, the Mets have been inside three hit by pitches of the Reds’ modern-day file of 105 set in 2021. 


The Mets are on monitor to have baseball’s highest payroll for the primary time since 1989, amongst a record-tying six groups set to pay a penalty for spending. 

The Dodgers, who began the season as the highest spender, fell into second as a consequence of Trevor Bauer’s suspension. 

The Mets entered the final full month of the season with a $273.9 million payroll, in keeping with up to date figures by way of Aug. 31 compiled by Main League Baseball. 

The Dodgers are second at $267.2 million, adopted by the Yankees at $254.4 million.

— With AP

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