Mets reliever Dedniel Núñez will miss the rest of the 2024 season with a flexor harm, supervisor Carlos Mendoza advised reporters (together with Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). The correct-hander acquired a platelet-rich plasma injection as we speak as he seeks to keep away from surgical procedure, however he won’t have time to make it again to the sphere in 2024.
Till lately, the Mets had been optimistic they’d have Núñez again earlier than the tip of the common season. Earlier this month, DiComo reported that Núñez would be capable of “ramp up shortly” as soon as he acquired again on a mound, and the Mets weren’t even planning to ship him for extra exams. Simply final Monday, Tim Britton of The Athletic wrote that Núñez had “felt higher of late” and recommended the Mets have been hopeful he may start a throwing program shortly. Evidently, that’s now not the case.
Núñez, 28, was having fun with an exceptional debut season in Queens. From his MLB debut on April 9 to his ultimate look on August 24, he threw 35 innings with a 2.31 ERA and a pair of.13 SIERA. He began as an up-and-down, low-leverage reliever however shortly grew to become one in every of Mendoza’s most trusted arms. Sadly, the righty landed on the IL on the finish of July with a pronator pressure, and after making his approach again for one look on the finish of August, his forearm troubles got here again. The group has not provided a timeline for his return this time, however hopefully, if he can keep off the surgical desk, he’ll be able to go subsequent spring.
Fortunately for the Mets, their reduction corps stays a power, even in Núñez’s absence. Because the commerce deadline, the Mets rank eighth in baseball with a 3.28 bullpen ERA. Edwin Díaz, Reed Garrett, Phil Maton, and Danny Younger all have ERAs below 3.00 in that point. José Buttó hasn’t been fairly as sharp as of late, however he has a 2.70 ERA on the 12 months. In the meantime, veteran Adam Ottavino has robust underlying numbers in his 14th huge league marketing campaign; his 3.18 SIERA is greater than a full run higher than his 4.29 ERA this season. The Mets have gained eight of their final 10 and 19 of their final 30 video games, however they’ll nonetheless want each benefit they’ll get as they attempt to maintain off the Braves within the Wild Card race. An efficient bullpen can be essential down the stretch and doubtlessly into October.
