WASHINGTON — The Mets have been trying to figure out how to get the best out of 20-year-old Jenrry Mejia, whether that’s in the rotation or out of the bullpen, and he hasn’t had the success they’ve wanted.
That continued last night, as he pitched a solid first inning in relief but couldn’t finish the second inning.
Mejia, whose future could be in the rotation, entered to start the seventh and Jerry Manuel said he hoped to have him finish the final three innings.
“We tried to do something like that, but he kind of hit a wall,” Manuel said of Mejia, who wound up giving up three runs on two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.
So the Mets still have to come up with a plan for the hard-throwing righty.
Ryota Igarashi (hamstring) pitched a scoreless inning for Triple-A Buffalo last night against Charlotte and he is slated to pitch again for them tonight, meaning the earliest he would return would be Sunday.
A source said it was unlikely Mejia would be stretched out in the majors, so he could be sent down when Igarashi is recalled.
Manuel said the reliever could join the team for the Subway Series.
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After deciding to give David Wright a day off on Wednesday, Manuel considered doing the same for Jose Reyes last night, but didn’t.
“I think Jose is doing other things and playing so well defensively that I think his [offensive] struggles have not affected him,” Manuel said. “That’s a good sign of maturation. As a young player, everything revolved how he did offensively. He appears to have separated the two.”
Reyes rewarded Manuel for the move by starting the game off with a single to right that turned into a run when Wright doubled him in later in the inning. Reyes added another hit and an RBI.
The shortstop entered last night’s game hitting just .128 (5-39) over his previous 11 games and 2-for-18 (.111) in his previous 11 with runners in scoring position.
Manuel did give Luis Castillo the night off, as the second baseman continues to deal with a bruised foot.