WASHINGTON -- The Mets are potentially going to be without one of their left-handed relievers for at least the next few weeks, after A.J. Minter exited just nine pitches and one out into the eighth inning of New York¡¯s 2-0 win over Washington on Saturday at Nationals Park.
Minter felt some discomfort in his left triceps a few pitches into his outing, but it wasn¡¯t until he threw his final pitch -- a cutter to James Wood -- that he felt tightness that tends to indicate some sort of muscle strain.
He will undergo an MRI scan on Sunday to determine the next steps, but both Minter and manager Carlos Mendoza are confident the injury will require an IL stint. This is Minter¡¯s first time dealing with a triceps injury of any kind.
"Most likely [an IL stint], yeah,¡± Mendoza said. ¡°When you've got a pitcher coming out of the game because of an arm [injury], even if we get good news, you still gotta be careful. But I don't want to get ahead of myself. We've got to wait and see what we're dealing with here.¡±
"I¡¯m just glad it wasn¡¯t my elbow,¡± Minter said. ¡°That was what I was really, I guess, happy about. But yeah, I mean, we¡¯re probably looking at an IL stint, just hopefully I can come back and get this thing fixed and continue to help the team.¡±
Minter, who was coming back from left hip surgery he underwent while with the Braves last August, had been dominant for the Mets thus far. In 13 appearances he posted a 1.64 ERA while striking out 14 over 11 innings. And he¡¯d only been getting better: In his past seven games, Minter posted a 0.00 ERA while allowing just two hits and four walks.
¡°It¡¯s super frustrating,¡± Minter said. ¡°I was happy with the way the ball is coming out, and obviously the team¡¯s off to a great start. And just -- you never want to miss [time] and being away from your teammates, especially when the season¡¯s going great.
"But my job now is to get this thing fixed, and I¡¯m fully confident that [I¡¯ll] come back and continue to help this team.¡±
The Mets have other bullpen arms to call on -- including Max Kranick, who stepped up when a fellow reliever exited early for the second time in the past three games (also: Edwin D¨ªaz¡¯s early exit on April 23).
On Saturday, Kranick took his time warming up on the mound before working around a walk (credited to Minter) to get the final two outs of the inning and send the Mets to the ninth unscathed.
"Huge. I mean, unbelievable,¡± Mendoza said. ¡°You know, in every situation, every role -- that's probably back-to-back, now -- when he has to come in and warm up right there in the game on the mound, that's not easy to do. And he continues to attack, continues to make pitches, continues to get outs.¡±