WASHINGTON — A Mets season that has been one extended episode of “General Hospital” is about to get a visit from “The Young and the Rested.”
Chris Young says he won’t have a doubt in his mind about his right arm when he’s removed from the disabled list before tonight’s game to face the Nationals.
Two-plus weeks of rest have convinced him it really was just right biceps tendinitis bothering him, and nothing more serious.
“Now it feels back to normal and maybe even better than it did before the end of spring — maybe because I did a lot of work during spring training,” said Young, who is scheduled to face Jordan Zimmermann to open a three-game series at Nationals Park.
Less than a week after returning Jason Bay from the DL, the Mets now get back a key component to their rotation.
But manager Terry Collins’ crew won’t be close to whole until Angel Pagan (oblique), Bobby Parnell (circulatory problem in his right middle finger) and Ronny Paulino (oblique) return.
At least Young won’t have to worry about the chilly weather he says may have contributed to his tendinitis. Temperatures are expected to be in the 70s at first pitch tonight, a far cry from the 50-degree weather he encountered in Philadelphia and New York during his first two starts.
Young, who missed most of the last two seasons with shoulder problems, called it a “relief” that he needed only two weeks on the sidelines.
“In the past I’ve expected one thing with an injury and my arm has dictated another thing,” Young said. “This one was consistent with what they said it would be.”
Young (1-0) dominated the Nationals on April 10 at Citi Field, allowing one run on one hit over seven innings, but received a no-decision in the Mets’ 7-3 loss in 11 innings.
He first encountered the soreness in his shoulder during his season debut, at Philadelphia on April 5.
Not wanting to push the envelope for Young’s scheduled start against the Braves nine days ago, the Mets made the DL move.
Dillon Gee took Young’s place and pitched well enough over two starts to leave the Mets with a rotation controversy, of sorts. For now, Gee will remain with the team in a relief role.
The Mets, who have won four straight, view this road trip — which includes three games at Philadelphia this weekend — as a chance for retribution against division foes. The Mets were a combined 2-4 against the Nationals and Phillies earlier this month.
“The teams in our division, you’ve got to beat them,” Collins said. “Our division is very, very good.”
Young can set the tone, having already exhaled after the initial worry he would be sidelined for an extended period.
“I just hope it stays that way the rest of the year,” he said.
“If I hadn’t been through what I’ve been in the past, with shoulder scopes and sprains, I wouldn’t think twice about injuries, but they thought those were just little inflammations, and then one thing after another.
“My arm didn’t respond in the past and never got better. Now it’s different and I’m able get back out there, even though I hated to miss my last two starts.”
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Ike Davis, who has three home runs and six RBIs over the Mets’ last four games, said he’s pleased with his approach at the plate.
“At the beginning of the year, I was basically hitting doubles,” Davis said. “Then I got a little better timing and was able to get out in front and hit a couple of home runs.”