It’s was a holiday ouch for the Mets.
The organization’s top pitching prospect, Noah Syndergaard, was placed on the disabled list at Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday and is headed to New York to be examined for a mild flexor-pronator strain, the club announced.
The flexor-pronator is a forearm muscle.
Whether the strain — which can be a precursor to further damage that necessitates Tommy John surgery — is a concern within the organization depends upon whom you ask.
“We’re very concerned about it,” manager Terry Collins said Monday after the Mets’ 5-3 loss to the Pirates. “I know a lot of guys who go to the doctor and it’s nothing, but I know some that go and it’s an issue. Anytime you’re going in and the word ‘elbow’ shows up, especially when you throw as hard as [Syndergaard] does, it’s a concern.”
But general manager Sandy Alderson said he isn’t alarmed.
“At this point we don’t have a high level of concern,” he said. “But any time the forearm is involved we like to have it looked at. He will be seen [Tuesday]. I don’t believe it’s something that has been significant over the last few starts.”
Jenrry Mejia was unavailable after pitching both ends of a doubleheader on Sunday, forcing Collins to use Jose Valverde at closer. Valverde entered in the eighth and allowed two hits to tie the game at 2-2. Carlos Torres was used in the ninth.
After the game, Valverde was released.
“[Valverde] was the closer today,” Collins said. “I thought that was the time to use the closer. If I used Torres, I’m out of pitching.”
Travis d’Arnaud went 0-for-4 as the DH in a rehab game at Double-A Binghamton and is expected behind the plate on Tuesday. D’Arnaud is recovering from a concussion sustained two weeks ago.
Eric Young Jr. was placed on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring and Matt den Dekker was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.