According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, lefty Tommy Milone will not make his next start this Saturday due to a knee issue. He has been sent to the DL, and in a corresponding move, the Mets have activated catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
d’Arnaud will be available off the bench tonight against the Padres and is expected to start tomorrow. In 22 games, d’Arnaud has hit .203/.288/.475 with four home runs and 16 RBIs.
As for Milone’s start, while Tyler Pill was previously mentioned as a possible replacement, it seems the Mets are choosing between Rafael Montero and Josh Smoker. According to DiComo, they are leaning towards giving Smoker the start.
When Smoker was sent down to the minors recently, he was stretched out as a starter and pitched very well. In two starts he pitched 8.2 innings allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks, striking out eight. He has not fared very well in the Major League bullpen this year, however, going 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in 17.0 innings, but has struck out 22.
Montero continues to be horrid, having gone 0-3 with a 8.10 ERA in 16.2 innings. He has walked 14 and struck out 16.
The 30 year-old Milone hasn’t done much better, as he’s 0-2 with a 10.50 ERA since joining the Mets. On the season as a whole, he has gone 1-2 with a 7.91 ERA, striking out 28 and walking nine in 33.0 innings.
