The Mets announced they placed the right-handers. Marcus Stroman and Robert Gsellman on the disabled list. Stroman, who was said to be experiencing calf stiffness today, has been diagnosed with a tear to some extent in the calf muscles. Gsellman is experiencing some discomfort in his right triceps.
The IL placement for Stroman and the announced muscle strain are more sinister than this afternoon’s report on simple calf strain. It should be noted that even a Grade 1 strain indicates some minor stretching or ripping, so it is still possible that its absence is not substantial. Manager Luis Rojas He tells reporters that Stroman will not require surgery (Twitter link via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com), but the employer also referred to Stroman’s injury as a “week-to-week” situation, which is not a great prospect in a season that barely lasts nine weeks from start to finish.
Stroman’s loss is a brutal blow to the Mets, who were no longer entitled. Noah Syndergaard for the entire season due to Tommy John surgery. Twice winner of Cy Young Jacob deGrom will continue to lead the team’s rotation, but will now be followed by Steven matz, Rick Porcello, Michael Wacha and a fifth holder to be determined. Unlisted Veteran Erasmo Ramirez could be an option, and the 2017 first-round pick David peterson He’s also in the Mets’ player group. Right handed Walker lockett He was placed in IL this week with a back injury.
On a personal level for Stroman, the injury has the shortest possible time. Already facing a shortened platform season before his first foray into free agency this winter, losing several weeks could give Stroman fewer than 10 starts to demonstrate his health and effectiveness for interested clubs. Given the potential for teams to be stingy than usual in mid-range free agents after this year’s revenue losses, the calf problem could prove particularly costly for Stroman, who posted a 3.22 ERA with better than one strikeout per tackle on 184 1/3 frames last year.
As for Gsellman, there seems to be less concern. DiComo tweets that his IL period is expected to be three days old at most, and a return to the bullpen in early August does not appear to be out of the question. In two years since he became a full-time reliever, the 27-year-old Gsellman has a 4.45 ERA with 8.1 K / 9 versus 3.2 BB / 9 in 143 2/3 innings.
