The back end of the Mets’ beleaguered bullpen is “getting close” to having a new look — a youthful, fireballing one.
After the Mets’ 5-4, come-from behind victory in 11 innings over the Phillies, manager Terry Collins said Jeurys Familia’s role could be growing in importance.
“[Familia is] getting closer,” Collins said. “Once again, three days in a row, pounding the strike zone, throwing his breaking ball for strikes. The confidence is really mounting on him. He’s really close.”
The hard-throwing right-hander continued to impress Collins on Sunday, tossing 1 ²/₃ innings of shutout ball. He walked one, struck out one and didn’t allow a hit. Over his last nine outings, Familia, 24, has allowed just a single run, struck out 11 and given up four hits over eight innings pitched. Perhaps most importantly, Familia has walked just three in that span, a previous concern.
Shortstop Wilmer Flores and reliever Gonzalez German were unavailable because of illness. Collins said he expects Ruben Tejada to start at shortstop on Monday against the Yankees to kick off the Subway Series.
The Mets have yet to decide who will start Wednesday against the Yankees. They are mulling pulling Jenrry Mejia from his next start after a string of short outings. Collins said either one of their highly touted arms from Triple-A Las Vegas, such as Rafael Montero, Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard, could take Mejia’s spot in the rotation or Daisuke Matsuzaka could be moved out of the bullpen.
David Wright extended his hitting streak to nine games with a first-inning, run-scoring single. … Collins lost an instant-replay challenge in the seventh inning when Eric Young Jr. was called out. The manager is now 3-for-5 on the season. … Jon Niese delivered his 11th consecutive start of six innings while allowing three runs or fewer, the eighth longest such streak in baseball. The southpaw lowered his ERA to 2.17. … Collins said Lucas Duda, given the day off against Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, will start Tuesday against Yankees southpaw Vidal Nuno. Collins also plans to give Bobby Abreu a start or two in The Bronx with the benefit of the designated hitter.