MLB

Mets’ Pelfrey could need elbow surgery; Bay on DL, too

Mike Pelfrey and Jason Bay are two prominent targets among Citi Field boobirds, so it might be fitting they will be sidelined together.

The Mets placed both players on the disabled list yesterday after Pelfrey was diagnosed with what the team called swelling in his right elbow and an MRI exam revealed Bay has a non-displaced rib fracture.

According to a club source, initial tests indicated Pelfrey has a “small tear” in his right elbow, and the team wants him to receive a second opinion before deciding on a course of action. Pelfrey’s MRI results are expected to be examined by noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in the coming days, at which time season-ending surgery might be recommended.

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The Mets are still hopeful Pelfrey can avoid surgery, but general manager Sandy Alderson is bracing for an extended absence by the right-hander.

“There are conservative courses of action and there are radical courses of action,” Alderson said before the Mets’ 2-1 victory over the Marlins last night. “If you took the most conservative course of action in this case you are probably talking about two to four weeks, at least.”

According to a club source, the Mets almost certainly will promote Chris Schwinden from Triple-A Buffalo to take Pelfrey’s spot in the rotation on Friday in Colorado. In the meantime, lefty reliever Robert Carson and infielder Zach Lutz have been called up from Buffalo.

Pelfrey, who has a 2.29 ERA in three starts, said he incurred soreness during his Saturday start against the Giants, but figured it was tendinitis — a condition he has previously battled.

Pelfrey seemed stunned to learn he needed a DL stint.

“I feel great and I felt good the other day,” he said. “It was just a little bit of tightness that I thought was a little bit of tendinitis.”

Bay, who is batting .240 with three homers and five RBIs, hurt his ribs diving for a ball in the outfield on Monday. He originally thought he had bruised them.

“The silver lining is it’s non-displaced, and the doctor said another good thing is it’s a fairly small crack,” Bay said. “So hopefully it won’t take that long.”

Jordany Valdespin could see action in left field, but with Andres Torres (calf) scheduled to rejoin the team on Monday in Houston, the Mets could soon shift Kirk Nieuwenhuis to left field.

mike.puma@nypost.com