Matz has strained finger; no DL stint needed

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ATLANTA -- The Mets needed a little good news on Wednesday, and it came in the form of Steven Matz. Matz underwent an MRI earlier in the day, and manager Mickey Callaway said that although Matz's left middle finger is slightly strained, the injury will not require Matz to be placed on the disabled list.
"He's day to day at this time," Callaway said, "but [we're] optimistic since we're not DL'ing him."
Matz was taken out of Tuesday night's loss to the Braves in Atlanta in the fourth inning after his bat flew from his hands, pulling back the finger, on a foul ball in his second at-bat of the night. Callaway was quick to assure that Matz's injury is nowhere near that of Noah Syndergaard, who was placed on the DL early Tuesday afternoon with a strained ligament in his right index finger.
"[Matz's injury] is a totally different thing," Callaway said. "It was more of the bat hitting that middle knuckle. It's not even in the same ballpark. It's a finger issue, but that's it."
Mets on the move
The Mets made a handful of roster moves before Wednesday night's series finale against the Braves at SunTrust Park.
New York recalled left-handed reliever Buddy Baumann and selected the contracts of right-hander Tim Peterson from Triple-A Las Vegas and fellow righty Scott Copeland from Double-A Binghamton.
After being acquired earlier this season from the Padres, Baumann made one appearance with the Mets, on May 16 against the Blue Jays. He pitched two innings in relief, striking out three while giving up three runs on three hits.
Fellow reliever Peterson has made 23 appearances in Vegas, tallying 40 strikeouts and 19 hits through 28 2/3 innings. He has been relying more on his changeup and slider in recent outings, saying that he has used the slider more this season than in years past.

The lone starter of the trio, Copeland has a 3.81 ERA through five Minor League appearances in 2018. He has allowed 23 hits and recorded 21 strikeouts through 28 1/3 innings.
To make room for these three on the 25- and 40-man rosters, the Mets optioned Jacob Rhame and Phillip Evans to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Simultaneously, the Mets transferred outfielder Juan Lagares, who has been dealing with a torn left big toe plantar plate, to the 60-day DL and designated left-hander P.J. Conlon for assignment.
"Any time you are taking a guy off the 40-man, it's a difficult decision," assistant general manager John Ricco said. "But we are in the point in the season where we have to make some tough decisions."
It's been a taxing few days for the Mets, with 17 roster moves, but it's been especially strenuous for Callaway, who says he hasn't slept well in a week.
"We're just trying to think of ways to get out," Callaway said. "What can we do? What can we stress? How can we react today? What conversations can we have with which players? We have to try to continue to get out of what's going on."
History in Queens
Marysol Castro will become the Mets' first female public address announcer when she begins splitting time with Colin Cosell later this week. She will make her debut at Citi Field on Thursday.
"I appreciate the Mets for doing something they've never done in franchise history," Castro said in a news release on Wednesday. "I look forward to working with the team, including my partner Colin Cosell, who has sports royalty running through his veins."
Cosell, the grandson of the legendary Howard Cosell, will make his debut on Saturday night.
Minimal damage to Rotunda after fire
A fire broke out in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field a few minutes before 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Per a release from the Mets' front office, the fire was extinguished by "the fire suppression system" before the fire department arrived on the scene.
"There was minimal damage, which was non-structural, and only the immediate affected area was evacuated," the statement said. "Nobody was in the Rotunda at the time, and no one was hurt."

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