PHILADELPHIA — Max Kranick won’t be back pitching for the Mets in the first half of the season, but the right-hander appears to have avoided a season-ending injury.
An MRI exam on Kranick’s elbow revealed a flexor strain, according to Carlos Mendoza.
The reliever will be shut down from throwing for 3-4 weeks before he is evaluated for a possible build up.
Kranick, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier in his career, was placed on the injured list this week with discomfort in the elbow.
He’s pitched to a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances this season.
“He’s going to be down for quite a bit, but relatively good news here,” Mendoza said before the Mets ended their seven-game skid with an 11-4 win over the Phillies.
The Mets lost Tylor Megill to the IL with elbow inflammation earlier in the week.
Mendoza received positive reviews on Sean Manaea’s rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse a night earlier.
The left-hander allowed one earned run over 5 ¹/₃ innings and struck out seven over 62 pitches.
“The breaking ball, especially, he threw a lot of strikes and he got swing and miss,” Mendoza said. “It was pitch-efficient.”
Manaea is scheduled for a potential final rehab start Wednesday, after which he could join the Mets’ rotation.
Manaea began the season on the injured list after an oblique strain sidelined him in spring training.
“He was kind of like the ace of our pitching staff last season and we re-signed him and then unfortunately he went down early in spring training,” Mendoza said. “But especially where we are as a team and missing some guys and being able to get him back is going to be huge for our team.”
Ronny Mauricio received his first start at second base after playing mostly at third over the 2 ½ weeks since his recall from Syracuse.
Mendoza initially wanted Mauricio at third because that is where he felt the most comfortable.
“I feel like now we have gotten our eyes on him,” Mendoza said. “The days he hasn’t played, he’s been working at second base. We know how good Brett [Baty] has been at third. Mauricio has been fine at third base too, but we felt today was the day [for the switch].”
Chris Devenski and Tyler Zuber were recalled from Syracuse to provide the Mets with fresh bullpen arms.
Blade Tidwell and Justin Garza were optioned.
Zuber, who arrived in a trade last summer, hadn’t appeared in a major league game for the Mets entering Saturday.
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