Left groin strain sidelines Mets' Alvarez
Injury leaves Gilmartin as lone southpaw in bullpen
NEW YORK -- Mets manager Terry Collins did not sound particularly optimistic about the fate of left-hander Dario Alvarez, who left Tuesday night's 9-3 loss to the Marlins with a left groin strain.
Alvarez retired one batter in the ninth inning before allowing three straight hits -- all to lefties -- including a two-run homer to Dee Gordon, and issuing a balk before he was removed and appeared to be walking gingerly. He was scheduled to undergo X-rays after the game.
"When it's a groin, it's severe when you're a pitcher," Collins said. "They don't heal real fast, so that's certainly going to be an issue."
The Mets will have decisions to make on who will fill the final spots of their bullpen on a possible playoff roster, should their 8 1/2-game lead in the National League East hold. It is possible that New York will not carry a left-handed relief specialist, a position the club has struggled to fill due to injury and ineffectiveness.
They have lost two pitchers to Tommy John surgery, Josh Edgin in Spring Training and Jack Leathersich in late July. Jerry Blevins broke his left forearm after being hit by a line drive in April, then re-fractured the bone when he slipped while stepping off a curb in August. Eric O'Flaherty has been mostly unproductive since he was acquired from Oakland.
Sean Gilmartin is the only Mets lefty in the bullpen, but his numbers against right-handers (.223/.302/.287) are better than his numbers against left-handers (.253/.306/.342).