Joey Lucchesi optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, Mets activate righty Dennis Santana
WASHINGTON — The dust has settled from Saturday’s rain-delay debacle and the Mets have made the necessary roster moves for the continuation game against the Washington Nationals.
Left-hander Joey Lucchesi was the pitcher who started the second game of a four-game series on Saturday night, but he won’t be around to see the finish of it. The Mets optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday morning and activated right-hander Dennis Santana, who will be the long man out of the bullpen with the team’s typical long reliever, right-hander Stephen Nogosek, starting the resumption of the Saturday game.
The Mets also designated right-hander Seth Elledge for assignment.
Left-hander Zach Muckenhirn was selected as the 27th man for the second game. Brooks Raley has been eligible to come off the injured list since Saturday but the Mets have yet to make a roster move for the lefty.
“A lot of moving parts,” manager Buck Showalter said.
Lucchesi made a return from Tommy John surgery last month with a fantastic performance in San Francisco, one that was so good he called it the best of his career. But he wasn’t able to repeat that performance. He owns a 1-0 record with a 4.43 ERA in four starts, but in three starts against the Nationals, the Detroit Tigers and the Colorado Rockies — three teams in the bottom of their respective divisions — he posted a 6.70 ERA.
That doesn’t count his Saturday start when he allowed one run in the first inning before the game was suspended in the top of the third. It’s tough to blame him for that one run considering how hard it was raining when the game began. It was clear he was having trouble gripping the ball. At one point during the first inning, the umpires had to bring out a dry rosin bag.
“Yesterday was tough,” Showalter said. “He got a big double-play ball that kept us engaged in the game and it could have gotten away from him. I keep in mind the hurdles he has crossed over with surgery.”
Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (elbow bone spurs) made a rehab start with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday and is expected to join the Mets when the team returns to New York. He threw four scoreless innings against the Hartford Yardgoats, allowing only two hits and struck out four. The veteran righty threw 54 pitches and 11 more in the bullpen to end the day.
He will likely make a start in place of Lucchesi next week against the Cleveland Guardians.
