Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
New York Mets pitcher Brooks Raley has been placed on the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation, the team announced on Saturday afternoon.
In corresponding moves, RHP John Curtiss has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. RHP Adam Ottavino has been reinstated from the paternity list and LHP David Peterson has been optioned to Syracuse.
It isn’t surprising that Peterson has been optioned to Triple-A. The lefty struggled in the rain-shortened 4-0 loss to the Braves on Friday, allowing four runs on five hits, including giving up a three-run homer to Matt Olson. Plus, with Max Scherzer returning from suspension and Justin Verlander returning from injury next week, someone was always going to have to make way in the starting rotation.
That man has proved to be Peterson.
In regards to the Raley injury, it is another blow in a long list of blows already absorbed by the Mets just a month into the 2023 season. Their pitching in particular has been ravaged, and losing Raley is yet another substantial setback. The Mets can’t afford to keep losing bodies from their bullpen.
Despite one roughing outing against the Brewers, Raley has proved to be the left-handed reliever the Mets have long craved. Prior to his last outing against the Nationals on Thursday, where he allowed two earned runs, Raley had gone 10 straight appearances without allowing a run. He already boasts eight holds in his 13 outings too.
Raley owns a 4.76 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 11.1 innings pitched so far in 2023. He’s been a reliable presence in what has been an overworked bullpen. Even with a heavy workload in the early going, Raley has been dependable and solid and maybe his less than ideal last outing can be traced back to the left elbow inflammation he’s now suffering with.
Given all of their other issues they have suffered with through the first month of the 2023 season, the Mets can’t afford anymore significant injuries to their bullpen and the hope will be that Raley’s injury isn’t anything too serious.
