Gsellman (right triceps) placed on IL
KANSAS CITY -- Right-hander Robert Gsellman hoped that positive results Saturday from playing catch would persuade the Mets to keep him off the injured list due to soreness in his right triceps.
No such luck.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that, while Gsellman's game of catch went fine, the club would still place Gsellman on the IL, retroactive to Wednesday. The Mets made a corresponding move by recalling right-hander Walker Lockett from Triple-A Syracuse.
Gsellman had not pitched since taking a loss against the Nationals on Sunday, and he said that he felt some “second-day soreness popped up” the next day. After talking with the club's athletic training staff and front office, Gsellman played catch for a few minutes Saturday. But Callaway said that Gsellman’s time away made the move necessary.
“He played catch today and it felt pretty good, but at this point, you can’t just run him out there, so we decided to do the right thing and take care of him for a few days,” Callaway said. “We just want to see if the stiffness and soreness goes away.”
Gsellman posted a 4.66 ERA, with 60 strikeouts and 23 walks in 63 2/3 innings. He mostly appears in the seventh and eighth innings.
“Hopefully, Walker or somebody else will step up and get some big outs for us,” Callaway said.
Lockett made four spot starts for the Mets earlier this season, most recently Aug. 5 in the second game of a doubleheader, posting a 7.79 ERA in 17 1/3 innings. He made nine starts over 10 appearances and posted a 3.91 ERA for Syracuse.
Callaway said that Lockett probably would be used as a multiple-innings reliever during this stint, adding that Lockett could be counted on to throw strikes and induce ground-ball outs when needed.
No DH for J.D.
Saying his right calf felt fine, outfielder J.D. Davis attempted to lobby Callaway to start at designated hitter on Saturday. Instead, David prepared for possible pinch-hitting duty, with Amed Rosario leading off at DH and Luis Guillorme playing shortstop.
Davis tweaked his calf running out an infield single in the eighth inning of Friday's loss.
“J.D. came into today feeling a lot better,” Callaway said. “Just to make sure we’re doing the right thing, he’s not going to be in the lineup. Sounds like he’ll be available to pinch-hit."
Callaway said that he also considered Pete Alonso for the DH slot, but took into account Rosario’s overall workload on both sides of the ball and gave him the nod.