Notes: Carrasco update; Guillorme to IL

Injured Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco continues to make solid progress in his rehab from a torn right hamstring, though he is likely still about two weeks away from a return.

Carrasco stretched out to five innings in a game on Thursday at the Mets’ rehab complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., marking his first time reaching the fifth after multiple four-inning outings. The Mets haven’t laid out the next steps for Carrasco, who still must prove he can adequately field his position while also going through essentially a normal Spring Training progression. But it’s likely the team will take advantage of the Minor League season’s impending start to give him live game reps.

If the Mets want, they could use Carrasco at one of their affiliates on Minor League Opening Day on Tuesday. He has yet to debut for the big club after the Mets acquired him and Francisco Lindor in an offseason trade with the Indians.

Wherever Carrasco next pitches, it won’t be in St. Louis, where New York will begin a four-game set Monday. The club could open that series with Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman, but the Mets remain wary of overtaxing their top pitchers so early in the season. As such, manager Luis Rojas acknowledged that he is likely to give deGrom an extra day of rest, much as he did before deGrom’s 15-strikeout two-hitter at Citi Field on April 23. That would line deGrom up for Tuesday, putting the Mets in need of a fifth starter on Monday for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Upcoming rotation

Saturday at Philadelphia: Taijuan Walker
Sunday at Philadelphia: David Peterson
Monday at St. Louis: TBA
Tuesday at St. Louis: Jacob deGrom
Wednesday at St. Louis: Marcus Stroman

The Mets could recall either Joey Lucchesi or Jordan Yamamoto from their alternate training site to pitch on Monday. Or, as Rojas said, they could throw a bullpen game. Among those in the Mets’ bullpen stretched out for multiple innings are Sean Reid-Foley and Robert Gsellman; the situation may depend upon whom they use over the next few days.

Shot in the arm

Rojas reported no significant side effects among players who received their second COVID-19 vaccination shots on Wednesday. The Mets planned their shots so that players would have nearly two full days to recover before their next game Friday in Philadelphia.

“Some guys that I talked to briefly in the clubhouse today told me that they felt a little fatigue,” said Rojas, who was among those to receive his second Pfizer dose. “They don’t know if it was because of that, but they felt something for an instant. They were able to get the rest yesterday, so I think it was a good call by our medical staff to do it postgame before a day off.”

Although the Mets are not among the four Major League teams to vaccinate 85 percent of their Tier 1 individuals, they will continue to provide vaccines and educational materials for anyone who wants them in the future.

Clubs were informed just before Opening Day that MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to relax certain health and safety protocols contained in the 2021 Operations Manual for fully vaccinated Tier 1 Individuals and for clubs where 85 percent of their Tier 1 Individuals are fully vaccinated. This applies to all players and staff who are considered Tier 1, including those at the alternate site. As part of that memo, players and staff were again strongly encouraged to receive one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines when eligible.

Roster move

Seeking to lengthen their bullpen in advance of a series against the lefty-heavy Phillies, the Mets recalled left-handed reliever Daniel Zamora from their alternate site. Hours later, they placed Luis Guillorme on the injured list with a right oblique strain, which cleared roster space for Zamora.

Zamora last appeared in the Majors in 2019, struggling to a 5.19 ERA over 17 appearances. Overall in parts of two big-league seasons, Zamora has produced a 4.08 ERA with reverse platoon splits (a .233 opposing average from right-handed hitters and a .257 mark from lefties). He gives the Mets a second left-handed option behind Aaron Loup.

To make room for Zamora, the Mets initially optioned infielder José Peraza to their alternate site on his 27th birthday. But Guillorme's injury changed the equation. His assignment to the IL prompted the Mets to recall Peraza just hours after he was optioned.

Guillorme was batting .333 in 14 games for the Mets, filling in frequently at third base. His IL stint is retroactive to Thursday.

From the trainer’s room

• Rehabbing Mets reliever Seth Lugo has now thrown multiple bullpen sessions as he recovers from surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. He is likely to go on a rehab assignment once the Minor League season begins. The Mets hope Lugo can return by mid to late May.

• Noah Syndergaard remains on track for a mid-June return from Tommy John surgery. He stretched out to two innings at the Mets’ Port St. Lucie, Fla., facility, throwing all his pitches and sitting 94-95 mph with his fastball.

Hey, I remember you

Former Mets infielder Eric Campbell has been named manager of the Norwich Sea Unicorns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a summer league for amateur players. Campbell, who played for the Mets from 2014-16, is a Norwich, Conn., native.

“I was very fortunate to play for some of the best managers and coaches in baseball, and I look forward to teaching our young players the lessons I’ve learned along the way,” Campbell said in a release.