MLB

Dice-K is back … in the bullpen

PHOENIX — Daisuke Matsuzaka was crushed not to make the Mets’ Opening Day roster, but in the end only had to wait two weeks to escape Triple-A Las Vegas.

In need of rotation insurance with Bartolo Colon and Jenrry Mejia battling physical issues, the Mets selected Matsuzaka’s contact on Wednesday and outrighted lefty John Lannan to Las Vegas.

Matsuzaka will pitch from the bullpen, according to general manager Sandy Alderson. The right-hander’s only bullpen work in the major leagues came with the Red Sox in 2011, when he made one relief appearance.

“Coming out of the bullpen is definitely something new to me,” Matsuzaka said before the Mets beat the Diamondbacks 5-2 at Chase Field. “But I understand what is expected of me, so I just have to go along and do the best that I can and pick things up as I go along.”

In five relief appearances, Lannan was 1-0 with a 15.75 ERA. The lefty has 72 hours to decide whether he will accept a minor-league assignment or become a free agent.

“The team is doing really well and I wasn’t really contributing , so they had to go in a different direction,” Lannan said.

Colon has battled back stiffness, but will make his Saturday start against the Braves, according to manager Terry Collins. Mejia left his Tuesday start against the Diamondbacks with a torn blister on his right middle finger and will throw a bullpen session on Friday that will largely determine his readiness for his next start. Mejia said he doesn’t expect the blister to be an issue.

♦ Curtis Granderson entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth and was retired in his first appearance since leaving Monday’s game with injuries to his knee, rib cage and forearm after crashing into the right-field fence. Granderson said he expects he will be in Friday’s starting lineup.

♦ The Mets are among the teams that will watch veteran reliever Joel Hanrahan throw in a showcase on Thursday in Tampa. Hanrahan, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, is expected to begin pitching next month.

♦ Chris Young rejoined the team for pregame drills and is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list on Friday. The veteran outfielder has appeared in one game for the Mets, but still doesn’t have an at-bat with the club.

“It’s tough to sit there and watch ballgames and not be out there and participate,” Young said. “I kept up with the guys.”