CINCINNATI — It sounds like the Mets will have to wait just a bit longer for Carlos Carrasco’s season debut.
The veteran right-hander, who’s been working his way back from a season-long torn hamstring, had a rough outing in his second rehab start on Tuesday in Trenton. After pitching a couple of clean innings for High-A Brooklyn, allowing just one hit and registering two strikeouts, in his first rehab start last week, Carrasco struggled with his command in his Triple-A Syracuse assignment.
He surrendered five earned runs on three hits (three home runs) and walked three batters in 1.2 innings and 41 pitches. The Mets expected Carrasco to stretch out to three innings on Tuesday before his outing was cut short due to the pitch count and sloppy start. It was a disappointing night for the pitcher, who has worked hard to put his nagging strained hamstring behind him.
Though the team previously said Carrasco could make his Mets debut as soon as this weekend, that outlook sounds like it will be pushed back following his five-run outing. The Mets had initially hoped he could complete his progression with the team, by potentially sliding into the rotation before the end of this month. Now, it’s likely Carrasco will need at least one or two more rehab starts to correct his command issues.
“He was on and off with his command, but stuff-wise, he was the same as he’s been since he’s throwing the ball and we’ve had our reads,” Luis Rojas said. “No concerns there as far as where the stuff is. We shall see what the next step is going to be for him. I know we talked about having him potentially make his next start or outing with us, but we’ll see about that. We’ll have to talk through it and we’ll have to see where he is.”
While the Mets figure out what’s next for Carrasco — and Jacob deGrom (right forearm tightness) recovers on the injured list — Taijuan Walker, Marcus Stroman and Tylor Megill will have to do the heavy lifting in the Mets rotation.
A DIFFERENT VIEW
Rojas set up camp in a suite on the third level of the Great American Ball Park on Monday and Tuesday, instead of his usual perch on the top step of the visitor’s dugout. The manager was serving his two-game suspension as imposed by Major League Baseball for “excessively arguing” with umpires on Sunday before, and after, getting ejected from the Mets game against the Pirates.
As upset as the Mets manager was about being charged with his first-career suspension, the always optimistic skipper found advantages while watching the games from a different view. He said the perspective — high above home plate — helped him from a coaching standpoint. Rojas talked to his players about moving on their positioning a little earlier while fielding. He also learned some pointers while watching the games on a TV monitor.
“You always take advantage of any given situation,” Rojas said. “Even though it was not too much fun being away from the dugout the last two days, it was definitely an opportunity for me to learn some things. I saw some things and I was able to relay some things to the guys.”
ROSTER MOVES PLUS AN ACQUISITION
Right-hander Robert Stock was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain on Wednesday after he left his Tuesday start against the Reds after one inning. The Mets recalled infielder Travis Blankenhorn and right-hander Nick Tropeano from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned right-hander Geoff Hartlieb, who gave up one run in 1.1 innings of relief in Tuesday’s Mets’ loss, to Syracuse.
The club also claimed right-handed reliever Roel Ramirez off waivers from the Cardinals on Wednesday. He was optioned to Syracuse. Ramirez, 26, has appeared in one game this season and in one game in 2020 with St. Louis. He pitched in 20 games for Triple-A Memphis this season, going 0-1 with one save and a 4.34 ERA with eight walks and 32 strikeouts.