WASHINGTON — Jeurys Familia will have to continue waiting for an opportunity to prove he is part of the Mets’ future.
The right-handed reliever is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday to remove bone spurs and loose bodies from his elbow, the team announced. The procedure will be performed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Familia is expected to need 6-8 weeks recovery time before resuming workouts. It likely means the Mets won’t see him before late-August.
The 23-year-old Familia was placed on the disabled list on May 12 with biceps tendinitis and had begun rehabbing at Single-A St. Lucie before incurring a setback last week.
The Mets were hoping Familia would soon return to help stabilize a bullpen that has lacked depth leading into closer Bobby Parnell.
In eight appearances for the Mets this season, Familia has a 3.48 ERA.
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Mets outfield prospect Cesar Puello could be among the 20 players suspended by MLB for his connection to Biogenesis, according to ESPN. The 22-year-old Puello entered yesterday batting .302 with eight homers and 33 RBIs for Double-A Binghamton.
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Jon Niese is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today that will determine if he’s ready for his scheduled start on Saturday against the Marlins. Niese missed his last start with left shoulder tendinitis.
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Stephen Strasburg has been scratched from his scheduled start against the Mets tomorrow night and will be replaced by Gio Gonzalez. Strasburg suffered an oblique injury in his last start.
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Manager Terry Collins stuck with struggling Rick Ankiel in the starting lineup in the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Nationals Tuesday night, partly because the veteran outfielder was facing a former team. Ankiel played for the Nationals in 2011 and 2012.
“He’s playing against his old teammates,” Collins said. “Hopefully he’s fired up for this series and we’ve just got to get him to start putting the ball in play.”
Ankiel went hitless in three at-bats and is 2-for-31 (.065) over his last 10 games.