QUESTION MARK: Chris Young, who is battling biceps tendinitis, may have his start tomorrow pushed back again. The Mets also haven’t ruled out putting Young on the disabled list. (Reuters)
ATLANTA — It’s double trouble for the Mets.
As if the team doesn’t have enough problems, new concerns were raised after last night’s rainout at Turner Field about Chris Young’s availability to pitch tomorrow.
With the Mets and Braves scheduled to play a doubleheader today beginning at 4 p.m., manager Terry Collins’ bullpen could receive a workout. It has left the Mets with second thoughts over whether Young, who is battling biceps tendinitis in his right shoulder, would be the proper choice for tomorrow’s series finale.
As it stands, reliever D.J. Carrasco doesn’t figure to give the Mets more than five innings in a Game 1 start today. Mike Pelfrey is scheduled for the nightcap. The Mets could have an exhausted bullpen by tomorrow and would be vulnerable to complete burnout if Young incurred soreness during the early innings of his start.
One scenario has the Mets putting Pat Misch or Dillon Gee on standby and making a decision tomorrow morning on Young.
The Mets, losers of five straight games, were swept by the Rockies in a doubleheader at Citi Field on Thursday. They will be playing consecutive doubleheaders for the first time since Aug. 20-21, 1998, both against the Cardinals at Shea Stadium.
After last night’s rainout was announced — in addition to a downpour there was a tornado warning in the area — Young met with Collins, pitching coach Dan Warthen, trainer Ray Ramirez and assistant general manager John Ricco. General manager Sandy Alderson was on a speakerphone.
Young said numerous scenarios were discussed.
“I don’t want to put the team in a bind by any means, and leave us short-handed,” Young said. “I’m still preparing to pitch [tomorrow]. At the same time we’ve got to do what’s right for the team and have ample arms available.”
Young threw a bullpen session on Thursday and said the arm soreness has dissipated. But he also admitted there could be trouble lurking.
“There are no guarantees on how it could feel [tomorrow],” Young said. “The improvement has been good, which is positive. If it was really severely hurt I think there wouldn’t be improvement in the short period of time. But nobody wants to be in a bind, especially given playing five games in three days.”
Young first experienced the soreness during his season debut at Philadelphia 1½ weeks ago. Five days later he had a flare up, while pitching a gem against the Nationals in which he allowed one hit over seven innings. Young said the cold weather in the Northeast has likely played a role in the tendinitis.
Ricco said team brass hasn’t rule out the possibility of a disabled list stint for Young.
“We talked about all the different scenarios, really,” Ricco said. “At this point, working on the roster and that kind of thing, we have to leave all options on the table.
“All I know is where we are now, and we’re trying to sort through a little bit of a tough spot.”