Mets place RHPs Stock, Duarte on IL, ending their 2026 campaigns

NEW YORK -- The 2026 season is over for Mets right-handers Robert Stock and Daniel Duarte, each of whom was placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday.

Stock has numbness in his right fingers, while Duarte sustained a left hamstring strain against the Orioles on Tuesday night.

Stock was scheduled to start Wednesday’s game against Baltimore, but he started feeling weakness in his wrist, which traveled to his fingers during his last few starts. It turned out the problem is the residual effects of the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent during Spring Training.

Fortunately, the team doctors found a way to get rid of the numbness in his fingers.

“I have a medicine that is supposed to help the circulation,” Stock said. “I just took it and I’m going to try and throw. It seems like it is going to work. If it doesn’t work -- and we just taxed our bullpen the last couple of days -- then it’s not fair to the team for me to go out there and say, ‘Hey, is this medicine going to work or not?’

"We need our starting pitcher to do his job. I’m not worried about my hand. We are testing to see if this medicine is going to work."

Stock recovered from TOS surgery quickly enough to appear in eight games (seven starts), going 1-3 with a 5.93 ERA. His last appearance was on Sept. 9, when he allowed three runs in four innings against the Marlins.

Stock, 36, believes he has done enough to be considered for a big league job in 2027.

“My name should be in the conversation for being a Major League pitcher,” he said. “Obviously, there are a million things I want to improve on. Those are increasing my pitch mix with a curveball and changeup, I need to throw more strikes, I can afford to throw a little bit faster. I did a good job this year of ensuring that I’ll have a job next year.”

As for Duarte, he hurt his hamstring in the 10th inning of New York’s 7-5 loss to the Orioles. With runners on first and third and Jeremiah Jackson at the plate, Duarte threw a wild pitch that allowed Christian Encarnacion-Strand to score.

Encarnacion-Strand and Duarte nearly collided at the plate as Duarte was jumping for a throw from catcher Francisco Alvarez. Duarte was seen limping to the mound after that play, but he claimed he was OK and finished the inning.

Duarte was productive in the late innings, sporting a 2.12 ERA with two saves in 24 games.

“He had such a good season. He has done so many good things,” interim manager Andy Green said. “He has pitched setup innings for us, he has closed for us a few times. It’s a tough loss for the last two weeks of the season. We don’t think it’s anything serious.”

To replace Stock and Duarte, the Mets recalled right-hander Xzavion Curry and left-hander Jefry Yan. Curry received the start in Stock's place on Wednesday night against the Orioles. Curry is in his fifth stint with the club. He entered the night having allowed seven runs in 18 1/3 innings.

Yan is in his second stint with the club. He entered Wednesday having allowed eight runs in 12 2/3 innings.