Back injury could force Carlyle to disabled list

CHICAGO -- Buddy Carlyle, whose lower back injury affected him to such an extent that he needed help walking down Wrigley Field's dugout stairs following Monday's game, could be the latest Mets reliever headed to the disabled list.

Manager Terry Collins said the Mets planned to reevaluate Carlyle on Wednesday, at which point they may DL him and call up a reliever -- most likely left-hander Jack Leathersich, who is already on the 40-man roster, though right-handers Chasen Bradford and Zack Thornton are also under consideration.

If Carlyle does land on the DL, he will join Bobby Parnell, Vic Black, Jerry Blevins, Josh Edgin and Rafael Montero, all of whom are already there. Despite that, the Mets entered Tuesday's play with the National League's third-best bullpen ERA at 2.41.

"Anybody who sits there and whines about who they don't have is in big trouble," Collins said. "If we have to put Buddy on the DL, we'll bring somebody else in. And he's going to have to pick up his share of the load. That's kind of how it goes."

Parnell and Black, at least, are making progress in their recoveries from a right forearm strain and right shoulder tendinitis, respectively. Both relievers will throw bullpen sessions Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., before joining Triple-A Las Vegas for rehab outings on Sunday.