NY Mets News: Injury concerns bring us closer to threat level midnight

Before and in between the New York Mets pair of games on Monday, fans were treated to multiple pieces of injury news involving the team. After witnessing Jacob deGrom get through his work without any injury concerns of his own, three bombs of differing degrees dropped.

First, the Mets placed Robert Gsellman on the IL which opened up an easy transition to allow Jeff McNeil to make his return. Not long after, we found out he’ll miss up to 8 weeks. He did have company. Joining him on the IL is Jeurys Familia. To replace him, the Mets recalled Yennsy Diaz.

Two injuries on one day to the pitching staff Is bad. While nobody new appeared to get hurt, one tidbit of news did come out in regards to an already ailing arm.

Losing another starting pitcher, this time Joey Lucchesi, is a concern for the Mets

Joey Lucchesi was already on the IL this weekend but the worst diagnosis did come true. The lefty hurler who seemed to finally figure things out might need Tommy John Surgery. This would eliminate him from the rest of 2021 and possibly for all of 2022.

I know Gsellman, Familia, and Lucchesi aren’t the most important arteries in the pitching staff’s heart. However, losing any of them for a lengthy period of time will not go unnoticed.

Gsellman has pitched relatively well this year serving as the club’s long man in the bullpen. An ideal piece to have ready in the bullpen as needed for multiple frames, it looks like the Mets may need to put their faith in Sean Reid-Foley to do what Gsellman has done.

If I told you at the start of the season the Mets would lose Familia to the IL, you might smile a little. However, Familia has been a quality arm to turn to throughout the season. I don’t expect Yennsy Diaz to take on the innings that would have otherwise belonged to Familia. Preferably, Drew Smith receives a promotion in the bullpen.

Finally, there’s Lucchesi. Maybe the most important piece to lose of all, the Mets now need to find a permanent fixture for their rotation. The Lucchesi injury practically guarantees they’ll eventually look outside of the organization for a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Despite Jared Eickhoff pitching well in the second of the double-dip and some thought that Carlos Carrasco will take the mound in 2021, there are way too many question marks to leave that spot in the rotation as a revolving door. The starting pitching depth has been stretched thin.

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Are we at threat level midnight yet? Not quite. Mets fans are getting antsy, though. Injured position players aren’t coming back quick enough to balance the loss of pitchers. Fortunately, we’re almost through June which means the second half is nearing and the Mets will undoubtedly press their foot on the pedal a little bit harder.