Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets sent Jerad Eickhoff to the mound Tuesday night as they were, yet again, put into the position of having a “bullpen” game of sorts. After being designated for assignment and brought back by the Mets, Eickhoff was called up to start against the Atlanta Braves.

He surrendered 10 earned runs over 3 1/3 IP, seven hits, five walks, and four strikeouts. Giving up 12 baserunners in not even four innings pitched is inexcusable, but you can’t fault the guy after what he’s been through the last couple of weeks.

“Right now there are names filling the spots in the days ahead. It feels better that way.” manager Luis Rojas said on the Mets’ starting rotation moving forward.

In the first inning, Dansby Swanson doubled in Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman. Albies then followed up in the second inning by hitting a two-run home run, and Abraham Almonte did so as well in the third inning. Eickhoff gave up eight of his runs off of three home runs in the game. He has given up a towering nine home runs in 19 2/3 innings this year.

“Just getting behind, the walks,” Eickhoff said. “I don’t walk people like that so when I do it’s just an anomaly. It just can’t happen, just absolutely unacceptable. I’m still frustrated I let these guys down. It’s embarrassing.”

Yennsy Díaz entered after Austin Riley hit a grand slam in the fourth to make it 10-1. Riley’s first of two home runs of the game. Diaz, went 2 2/3 innings while giving up four hits, two earned runs, and three strikeouts. Diaz has allowed three earned runs through his last seven innings. Díaz caught Stephen Vogt swinging for the first batter he faced.

Drew Smith came in for the 7th inning and struck out the first two batters he faced Edgar Santana and Ehire Adrianza. Smith ended up going two innings and striking out three while allowing no base runners. After his rocky outing against Toronto on Saturday, it was nice to see Smith bounce back in the way that he did.

After his awful first two appearances for the Mets, Anthony Banda has been lights out against Atlanta in his last two appearances. Tuesday night he came in for the ninth and struck out Orlando Arcia for a 1-2-3 inning. Banda has been impressive of late, and with the Mets’ current pitching woes, they’re going to need all they can get from him and the rest of the bullpen.