ATLANTA — The Mets starting rotation depth is set for further testing following Tylor Megill’s placement on the injured list Tuesday with a right elbow sprain.
Megill felt discomfort during his Saturday start — mainly when throwing his offspeed pitches, he said — and a subsequent MRI exam found inflammation in the elbow.
The right-hander will be shut down from throwing for the next one to two weeks and then be evaluated for a possible ramp-up that would perhaps position him for a return shortly after the All-Star break.
“There is a lot of inflammation around the elbow,” Megill said at Truist Park, where the Mets were scheduled to open a three-game series against the Braves. “[The inflammation] is kind of what is pissing off the tendons and ligaments.”
Megill said there is no indication his ulnar collateral ligament is torn.
“Considering all things elbow-related, I would say this is probably the best outcome that could happen from something like this,” Megill said. “We are just going to wait it out and reassess in seven to 10 days.”
Megill has slumped following a sizzling March/April to begin the season. Over his past eight starts he’s pitched to a 5.79 ERA and completed six innings only once.
Last week, the Mets had six starters on the major league roster for five spots, but that equation has changed. Kodai Senga was placed on the IL on Friday with a right hamstring strain — he sustained the injury covering first base a day earlier — elevating Paul Blackburn into the rotation (the veteran right-hander is Wednesday’s scheduled starter).
The Mets will have to look toward Triple-A Syracuse for a Friday starter in Philadelphia.
Blade Tidwell and Justin Hagenman are among the options already on the 40-man roster.
Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated he’s viewing Friday as a spot start for somebody, with Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea as potential options in the near future.
Montas is scheduled to pitch Wednesday in a final rehab start for Syracuse.
But the right-hander has struggled in his minor league appearances, most recently allowing eight earned runs over 1 ²/₃ innings. Montas has pitched to a 13.17 ERA in his five minor league appearances.
Mendoza would not commit to Montas, who is returning from a lat strain, joining the rotation next week.
“We still have got to wait,” Mendoza said. “We’ll see how he goes [Wednesday]. Hopefully he throws the ball well and not only that, but feels well, and then we will have a decision. Hopefully we see some good results, he bounces back and then he will be part of the rotation. That will be the ideal scenario.”
Manaea is scheduled Friday for a rehab start with Syracuse. His previous three have occurred with Single-A Brooklyn as he rehabs an oblique strain from spring training.
Megill earned a starting rotation spot in spring training following the injuries to Montas and Manaea. Overall, he’s pitched to a 3.95 ERA in 14 starts for the team.
Blackburn started as part of a six-man rotation against the Dodgers two weeks ago, when he threw five scoreless innings. The right-hander has worked twice from the bullpen since then, including Friday, when he allowed four earned runs in one-third of an inning against the Rays.
“He is pitching [Wednesday] and then he is in the rotation,” Mendoza said. “But with two guys down, there is a pretty good chance that he is going to stay in the rotation.”
