Lugo hits DL as Gsellman returns to rotation

NEW YORK -- Mets starter Seth Lugo, who spent much of the season on the disabled list and has been pitching with a partially torn elbow ligament when active, is back on the DL. The Mets placed him there Tuesday before their 5-4 loss, scratching him from his scheduled Subway Series start Wednesday against the Yankees due to a right shoulder impingement.
Right-hander Robert Gsellman, who has been on the DL since June 28 due to a strained left hamstring, will take Lugo's place Wednesday at Citi Field.
The Mets feel that Gsellman is fully prepared to pitch against the Yankees. Their greater issue lies with Lugo, who has not been able to avoid injury this summer.
"That always concerns me that you've changed your delivery to compensate if you've got a bad elbow, and then all of a sudden your shoulder [hurts]," manager Terry Collins said. "And I know one thing, I don't like to hear shoulder problems. Those scare me more than anything."
Lugo, 27, was 5-3 with a 4.85 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance, but 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA in his last three outings. After pitching for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, Lugo learned in late March that he had a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Rather than undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, Lugo elected for a platelet-rich plasma injection and rehab program, making it back to the Mets on June 11.
He is convinced that, despite this latest shoulder episode, his elbow is sound. Lugo does not consider surgery an option for either his shoulder or elbow, nor does he expect to miss more than one or two starts.
"The elbow's been fine," Lugo said. "The doctors said this is an inoperable situation. Rest is just going to make it better. Surgery's not even a thought."

Gsellman, 24, has been healed from his hamstring strain for some time, but did not pitch well enough on a Minor League rehab assignment to merit a prompt return to the Mets. He finally impressed them in his last outing, throwing six shutout innings for Double-A Binghamton, shortly after general manager Sandy Alderson said that Gsellman "needs to pitch better" to earn a callup.
When asked Tuesday if he was aware of those comments, Gsellman replied: "No. No. I don't really care."
In 14 starts and three relief appearances for the Mets this season, Gsellman is 5-5 with a 6.16 ERA.