The Mets introduced that right-hander Christian Scott has been positioned on the 15-day injured checklist with a proper UCL sprain, retroactive to July 22. Left-hander Alex Younger was recalled in a corresponding transfer.
At this level, it’s unclear how extreme Scott’s sprain is or how lengthy the Mets count on him to be out, but it surely’s a regarding improvement nonetheless. The ulnar collateral ligament is the one changed in Tommy John surgical procedure and a sprain, by definition, includes a point of stretching or tearing.
That’s to not say that Scott is certainly going below the knife, as pitchers are generally capable of return from a UCL sprain through non-surgical means. For a current and maybe best-case instance, Mason Miller of the Athletics was identified with a light UCL sprain in Might of final yr. He missed a couple of months of the season however was again with the membership by September and has been the most effective relievers in baseball right here in 2024.
However avoiding the scalpel will also be a short lived measure, as seen within the case of Kyle Bradish of the Orioles. He was identified with a UCL sprain in Spring Coaching this yr however was reinstated from the IL by early Might. However after eight begins with the O’s, he was again on the IL after which required Tommy John surgical procedure.
Additional updates will reveal extra about Scott’s absence however, as talked about, it’s not excellent news both method. The younger pitcher’s inventory has been skyrocketing over the previous two years, as he posted a 2.57 ERA within the minors final yr. Throughout 87 2/3 innings at three totally different ranges, he struck out 31.9% of batters and walked simply 3.6%.
He’s continued pitching properly within the minors this yr and has additionally made his main league debut. His first 9 begins on the large league degree haven’t been excellent, as he has a 4.56 ERA and a 19.8% strikeout charge, however that’s a reasonably small pattern measurement and he’s clearly nonetheless simply getting his toes moist within the majors.
The Mets had been undoubtedly hoping that he would proceed his improvement, placing up higher numbers as he went alongside, however that will probably be on pause for an undetermined period of time. Even shedding him for just some months will take him out of the membership’s rotation plans for the stretch run. The Mets are at present 51-48 and clinging to the ultimate Wild Card spot within the Nationwide League. As they give the impression of being to maintain that spot, they may accomplish that with out Scott of their rotation combine for now.
Kodai Senga is anticipated to come back off the IL this week, becoming a member of the rotation alongside Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, Luis Severino and David Peterson. The membership additionally has Tylor Megill on optionally available task and José Buttó and Adrian Houser at present within the large league bullpen. It was reported a couple of weeks in the past that the membership had sufficient wholesome rotation choices that they had been contemplating buying and selling somebody from that group whereas nonetheless making an attempt to compete this yr. Reporting from this week threw some chilly water on that and this information about Scott maybe makes that even much less seemingly, although the membership a minimum of has a lot of strong rotation choices to press ahead even when their commerce choices have been diminished.
On prime of the rapid impression of subtracting from the membership’s rotation depth, it’s lower than ultimate for a growing starter to be lacking important time. That’s true even when it’s just some months however it could clearly be much more true if Scott finally ends up requiring surgical procedure and maybe lacking all of 2025.
