Here is the latest news and possible return dates for Mets players...
Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.
The Mets made a change to the Wild Card Series roster just hours before Game 2, removing pitcher Joely Rodriguez due to a shoulder issue, according to multiple reports Saturday.
Rodriguez will miss the NLDS if the Mets advance.
The extent or specifics of Rodriguez’s shoulder injury were not made clear.
Taijuan Walker replaced him on the Wild Card roster.
Oct. 7, 4:54 p.m.
Prior to Game 1 of the Mets' Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, manager Buck Showalter clarified that Jacob deGrom's blister is "not an issue."
"It’s not an issue," Showalter said. "We don’t foresee it to be an issue."
Showalter went on to say that the Game 2 starter will depend on Friday's result. He said that both deGrom and Chris Bassitt are "prepared" to start Game 2 and "know exactly what's going on."
Additionally, Darin Ruf, who went on the IL due to a neck strain on Sept. 30 (retroactive to Sept. 27), took BP on Thursday with Starling Marte from LHP Phillip Diehl, according to Showalter.
Oct. 6, 3:17 p.m.
Starling Marte is still being evaluated for a spot on the Mets' Wild Card Series roster, reports SNY's Andy Martino.
The roster is not due until Friday at 12 p.m., roughly eight hours before Game 1 at Citi Field.
Buck Showalter gave another update on Starling Marte's progress prior to the team's final regular season game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, and said the OF had not been ruled out for the Wild Card Series.
"I'm never going to say never," Showalter said. "We're waiting, he's going to do some stuff today. Every day we take a different try at it, as far as padding and different things, trying to find that, and still waiting for the bone to heal.
"He's one of our toughest guys, so when you know that he can't, he will fight through about anything. But when you can't swing the bat, you can't hold a ball, it's kind of hard. He's out there as we speak trying to do some stuff."
Marte was on the field doing drills in the outfield prior to the team's regular-season finale.
Showalter added on Marte's availability for the Wild Card Series after being out for so long: "Sure there's concern about it, but if he's physically able to do it, he'll become an option."
Oct. 4, 2:30 p.m.
Buck Showalter provided another update on Starling Marte's progress prior to the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, saying the outfielder is improving "little by little" but not enough where he can play in a game.
The Mets manager said that Marte is "frustrated" by the lack of progress but reiterated that bone injuries can be tricky.
With the regular season already in jeopardy, Showalter was asked if he would rule Marte out for a possible Wild Card series. He said, "I wouldn’t go there yet. I’m trying to be optimistic about it."
If the Braves clinch the NL East in the next couple of days, the Mets will play the first game of the Wild Card round this Friday.Oct. 3, 4:45 p.m.
Buck Showalter gave an update on Starling Marte prior to Monday's game against the Washington Nationals, and said the outfielder is progressing from his finger injury but is still not ready for baseball activities.
"There was a little progress, but not enough to think something is imminent," Showalter said.
"I know that we're looking more about, right now ways to manage it and the discomfort," Showalter added. "Trying to see if there's some way. The earliest we would play obviously would be Friday, so we'll see what the next three days bring."
Oct. 3, 12:29 p.m.
Brett Baty, who has been out since Aug. 29 due to a thumb injury that required surgery, is hitting "flips" (soft tosses from coaches from close up) and is expected to start hitting off a machine soon, reports Tim Healey of Newsday.
Depending on how fast Baty progresses, he could be an option to help the Mets at some point in the postseason.
If the Mets are in the Wild Card round, which begins on Friday, it's hard to see Baty being ready for that. But if they advance, he could potentially become a factor.
Oct. 1, 6:10 p.m.
Finally, some positive news coming out of the Starling Marte injury saga as Buck Showalter told reporters on Saturday that Marte’s finger soreness has “abated” but that he’s still not at the point where he can grip a baseball or bat.
Still, overall Showalter thought it was a "positive narrative."
Sept. 30, 3:22 p.m.
Before Friday's game, the Mets placed INF/OF Darin Ruf on the IL due to a neck strain, with the move retroactive to Sept. 27.
Placing Ruf on the IL opened a 26-man roster spot for C Francisco Alvarez, who was activated ahead of his big league debut.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Alvarez, LHP Alex Claudio was designated for assignment.
Sept. 28, 4:21 p.m.
Starling Marte, who has been out for three weeks due to a broken finger, still has his finger immobilized in a splint, recently had an injection, and still has some discomfort, manager Buck Showalter told reporters on Wednesday.
"It's not imminent that he's a player," Showalter said.
Showalter added that "there's nothing definitive" regarding when Marte might return.
Marte had been aiming to be back for the start of the Mets' series against the Braves in Atlanta on Friday.
In order to play, Marte needs to get to the point where he can grip a ball and bat -- a point Showalter said Marte has not yet reached.
Sept. 28, 3:29 p.m.
Right-handed reliever Mychal Givens had a rehab outing on Wednesday with Triple-A Syracuse, and is now en route to join the Mets, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Givens has been out since Sept. 17, when he was placed on the IL without an injury designation -- something that typically means the player has COVID-19.
After a rocky start to his Mets career following the trade that brought him to New York at the deadline from the Chicago Cubs, he has been very good lately.
Givens is unscored upon in his last seven appearances dating back to Aug. 28.
Sept. 25, 4:52 p.m.
Starling Marte underwent a CT scan on his right middle finger which showed improved healing. He will continue baseball activities as tolerated, the team announced on Sunday.
Marte hasn't played since Sept. 6 after getting hit by a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sept. 22, 6:25 p.m.
The Mets announced on Thursday evening that Brandon Nimmo's MRI on his left quad tightness "came back clean."
He is day-to-day with the injury.
The Mets begin a three-game series on Friday at the Oakland A's.
Sept. 21, 5:40 p.m.
After Wednesday's loss to the Brewers, Buck Showalter provided an update on Brandon Nimmo, who left the game in the first with left quad tightness.
"I think he was smart about it," Showalter said. "He felt it sliding into second little bit and got out to center field, and thought it would be OK. Then he took off after a couple of those ball in front of him, smart move trying to get ahead of it. He's got left quad tightness and we'll get some imaging tomorrow just to see what we're dealing with. Always concerned. I'm hoping that his caution there was something that will reap some benefits."
Nimmo then spoke to reporters and said that he felt the injury on a slide, not his stolen base.
"On the slide when I felt like that I was to the side of the bag, I was trying to bring my left leg up, kind of like Starling [Marte] did in San Diego. When I got up from there it just felt tight, now it just kind of feels like a Charley horse. When I was in center field and I came in for that ball, I was kind of dragging that leg a little bit and I felt like this one day is not worth what could be weeks if I was to end of doing something worse.
"At that point I called them over and came out of the game because we felt like this could just be a few games kind of thing rather than weeks. That was the biggest concern for me. I know if I can catch things earlier, that I heal really fast, and so that was the decision that was made."
Nimmo said he's confident that it'll only be a day-to-day injury after he gets the remainder of the day and Thursday to recover.
"I do feel confident," Nimmo said. "I feel confident that given I'll get the rest of today and tomorrow and even most of Friday to recover, that from then on it should be a day-to-day thing. It already is feeling a little better then when I first did it, so that's encouraging and we'll go from there. I am pretty confident in there."
Sept. 21, 3:14 p.m.
Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo left Wednesday's game against the Brewers in Milwaukee with two outs in the bottom of the first inning due to left quad tightness.
Nimmo didn't break in from center very hard on a fly out by Rowdy Tellez that was eventually caught by left fielder Jeff McNeil, and was than visited in short left field by manager Buck Showalter and the training staff.
Following a brief discussion, where Nimmo was flexing his left leg, he exited the game.
After being taken out, Nimmo walked through the dugout to the entrance to the clubhouse without much of a limp.
Sept. 21, 12:27 p.m.
Starling Marte, who is on the IL due to a partial non-displaced fracture of his his right middle finger, told reporters Wednesday he is optimistic he'll be able to return in time for the Mets' three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta that starts Friday, Sept. 30.
The Mets have six games between now and then.
Marte, who resumed hitting and throwing Monday, plans to hit and throw again as soon as Wednesday.
Mets manager Buck Showalter said on Tuesday that Marte is still having "a little discomfort" when he swings and throws, and that his potential return date is a moving target.
Marte had started to hit and throw last week, but abandoned it for a few days after the pain level in his finger was too high.
According to Showalter, that pain is getting better.
"He's improving a little bit every day," Showalter said. "Getting a little better.... we're into the four out of 10, six out of 10, two out of 10 pain thing. So that's a good thing. That's starting to move down a little bit."
Sept. 20, 6:15 p.m.
Mets announced that RHP Drew Smith has been reinstated from the 15-day IL prior to Tuesday's game against the Brewers.
RHP Tommy Hunter was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Sept. 17, with low back tightness to make room for Smith.
Bryce Montes de Oca will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse.
Sept. 18, 12:00 p.m.
Buck Showalter provided some injury updates prior to Sunday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, saying that the team will need to make room for Max Scherzer to return Monday.
Showalter added that Drew Smith will be activated "probably Tuesday," and Tylor Megill will be "activated shortly, whatever shortly is."
Sept. 17, 4:18 p.m.
Prior to Saturday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets announced that reliever Mychal Givens has been placed on the IL.
The team did not announce an injury designation, which has typically signaled a COVID-related situation.
To fill Givens' spot in the bullpen, the Mets recalled righty Stephen Nogosek.
Meanwhile, Tylor Megill has concluded his rehab assignment, but the Mets don't plan to activate him until Monday, which is the next day he'll be available to pitch after throwing on Friday night.
Buck Showalter said the team is currently unsure if Megill will be used in multiple-inning spots.
Sept. 16, 8:25 p.m.
A trio of potential Mets bullpen options appeared for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night.
Joey Lucchesi, working his way back from Tommy John surgery, got things started against the Buffalo Bisons by pitching 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two on 31 pitches.
Tylor Megill followed Lucchesi, but he didn’t have the same success. Megill allowed one earned run on two hits, but he also walked a batter, hit another, and uncorked a wild pitch.
Drew Smith then pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning, needing just eight pitches to retire the side while striking out one. The righty will likely pitch again on Saturday before the Mets determine whether he needs another rehab appearance.
Sept. 14, 7:27 p.m.
Max Scherzer completed his rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday night, throwing 3.2 innings against the Buffalo Bisons.
Scherzer looked like himself, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. His only real blemish was an LJ Talley solo home run to right to lead off the top of the second.
The right-hander allowed a couple of singles in the third inning, but got out of the inning unscathed.
He threw 59 pitches, 41 of which were strikes.
After his outing, Scherzer said that he felt "excellent," saying that he feels ready to make his next start with the Mets on Monday.
Sept. 14, 4:40 p.m.
Buck Showalter said the plan for Max Scherzer's start with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday is to go four innings. If all goes well and he feels good, he can potentially rejoin the team Monday when his IL stint is up.
Showalter also provided the following updates on multiple players:
Drew Smith will pitch back-to-back Friday and Saturday and then a decision on his return will have to be made.
Tylor Megill will pitch for Syracuse on Friday. The team hopes Megill can go multiple innings.
Joey Lucchesi is scheduled to pitch three innings for Syracuse on Friday. Lucchesi continues to rehab after having Tommy John surgery in June 2021.
Brett Baty (thumb) is "doing well" and will have a follow-up with the doctors on Sept. 22.
Sept. 13, 10:56 p.m.
Max Scherzer will make his first rehab start since landing on the IL on Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse.
Scherzer last pitched for the Mets on Sept. 3 against the Washington Nationals and was pulled after five innings with "left side fatigue.”
Sept. 13, 8:40 p.m.
The plan was for Tylor Megill to pitch multiple innings on Tuesday night for Triple-A Syracuse, but the Buffalo Bisons had other plans.
After a rain delay, Megill did not make it out of the first inning on Tuesday, allowing five earned runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning, walking two without a strikeout. He threw 29 pitches, 15 of which were strikes.
Buck Showalter said earlier on Tuesday that the team would wait until after Megill’s Tuesday outing to decide whether or not he’d be ready to join the big club. The fact that Megill was unable to go two innings, which was the team’s original hope, could end up altering the club’s plans.
Sept. 13, 4:33 p.m.
Max Scherzer will either throw a sim game or start for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, manager Buck Showalter said prior to Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs.
Scherzer threw his first bullpen session on Sept. 11 as he works his way back from left side fatigue.
Additionally, Showalter said that the team will discuss if Tylor Megill is ready to rejoin the Mets after his scheduled outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday night.
Sept. 13, 9:01 a.m.
Starling Marte, who is on the IL due to a partial non-displaced fracture of his his right middle finger, said on Monday that the swelling has gone down and that he's feeling a lot better, via Pat Ragazzo of SI.
Marte added that he planned to run and take fly balls on Monday, and could take some swings with only his left hand soon.
Marte, who was hit by a pitch last Tuesday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, is eligible to return from the IL on Saturday.
It is not clear if Marte will be activated when first eligible.
Sept. 12, 11:56 a.m.
Top Mets prospect Francisco Alvarez returned to the lineup for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Alvarez had been out since Aug. 24 due to a right ankle injury that was recently examined in New York. After being examined, Alvarez was diagnosed with a loose body in the ankle.
Alvarez, 20, is hitting just .174/.331/.365 in 33 games since being promoted to Syracuse from Double-A Binghamton.
There is no indication Alvarez will be a consideration for a promotion to the Mets before the season ends. But as a member of the 40-man roster, he is eligible for the postseason roster.
Sept. 11, 12:35 p.m.
Prior to the Mets' game against the Miami Marlins, manager Buck Showalter provided some injury updates on Trevor May and Luis Guillorme.
On May: "Looking good for tomorrow, looking good for tomorrow," Showalter said.
On Guillorme: "I think we'll have Luis either Monday or Tuesday, if things go well today," Showalter said. "That's the plan."
Showalter added that the plan is for Guillorme to play 3B for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.
Additionally, Starling Marte spoke to reporters about his finger injury, saying through a translator that "it's not a big fracture, so we're hoping that it just recovers as fast as possible."
"Yeah the inflammation is down significantly," Marte added through the translator.
Finally, Max Scherzer threw his first bullpen session since landing on the IL which went well, according to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m.
Mets manager Buck Showalter announced that outfielder Starling Marte is being placed on the 10-day IL due to his partial non-displaced fracture of his his right middle finger.
The IL designation will be retroactive to this past Wednesday, making Marte eligible to rejoin the team next Saturday, Sept. 17.
To fill Marte's roster spot, the Mets are calling up Mark Vientos, one of the club's top prospects.
Sept. 9, 9:50 p.m.
Another night, another perfect inning for Tylor Megill.
The righty threw another 1-2-3 inning for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night against Rochester, adding one more strikeout as well.
Megill has now pitched four perfect innings during his rehab stint, with his next appearance on Tuesday scheduled to go two innings to try to stretch him out as a multiple-inning reliever.
Also of note, Luis Guillorme had a pair of hits and a walk on the night.
Sept. 9, 3:39 p.m.
Starling Marte said before Friday's game against the Marlins in Miami that his finger felt better and that he's hopeful he'll be able to avoid the IL.
Speaking soon after Marte, manager Buck Showalter said the team is not yet ready to put a timeline on Marte's return to the lineup and did not rule out a potential IL stint.
Marte, who was hit by a pitch on Tuesday, was diagnosed with a partial non-displaced fracture of his right middle finger.
Showalter added that both Trevor May and Luis Guillorme could be back near the beginning of the Mets' homestand that starts this coming Monday
Sept. 8, 8:25 p.m.
Luis Guillorme played six innings at shortstop in his second rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday night.
He finished the game 1-for-3 against the Rochester Red Wings, as he struck out, grounded out to third base, and singled up the middle.
Guillorme went on the IL on Aug. 15 with a moderate left groin strain and was expected to miss 3-4 weeks.
Sept. 8, 2:42 p.m.
Reliever Drew Smith will begin a rehab assignment this Saturday with Triple-A Syracuse, manager Buck Showalter told reporters on Tuesday.
Smith was one of the Mets' best relievers over the first three months of the season, carrying a 2.48 ERA into July.
He struggled badly in July, though, pitching to a 7.56 ERA and being placed on the IL after his appearance on July 24 due to a lat injury.
Smith's return to the Mets could come shortly after Tylor Megill, who is expected to be in a bullpen role for the remainder of the season.
Sept. 7, 8:40 p.m.
Tylor Megill made another rehab appearance on Wednesday night, this time for Triple-A Syracuse.
Taking the mound for the sixth inning against the Rochester Red Wings, Megill pitched a 1-2-3 frame, including a strikeout looking.
Megill has now pitched three perfect innings during his rehab assignments, striking out seven of the nine batters he's faced.
Sept. 7, 8:12 p.m.
After Starling Marte was sent for additional imaging on his right middle finger, the Mets announced on Wednesday night that the outfielder suffered a partial non-displaced fracture of that right middle finger, with the team considering him day to day.
At this time, it sounds as if Marte has avoided an IL stint.
Sept. 7, 3:26 p.m.
Starling Marte has been sent for additional imaging on his finger to get a clearer picture after Tuesday night's initial imaging, manager Buck Showalter said after Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
Per Showalter, nothing has changed since earlier Wednesday regarding Marte, who was sore after getting hit by a pitch on Tuesday night.
"We're waiting with bated breath that things come back clean," Showalter said. "I'm not handicapping it at all until our expert reads a good, clear image."
Showalter said Wednesday morning that it had been "so far so good" on Marte, who exited Tuesday's game after the HBP.
Sept. 7, 9:56 a.m.
Max Scherzer, whose Friday start was up in the air after leaving his start on Saturday due to left side fatigue, has landed on the IL, with the stint backdated to Sept. 4.
Buck Showalter said before Wednesday's game that Scherzer was placed on the IL "to be on the safe side," and that the expectation is that Scherzer will miss one or two starts and return when first eligible.
"We want it to completely heal," Showalter said, adding that the Mets received "pretty good news" after Scherzer underwent imaging.
Speaking after Showalter, Scherzer said he fully expects to be back when first eligible, and that the injury would cost him "days, not weeks."
Sept. 6, 8:55 p.m.
Luis Guillorme made his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday night.
Serving as the designated hitter because of some rainy weather in the area, Guillorme went 1-for-4 with a single against the Rochester Red Wings.
The utility man singled in his first at-bat and then flew out, grounded out, and grounded into a double play.
Sept. 6, 7:49 p.m.
The Mets are no stranger to the hit-by-pitch, and Starling Marte was forced to leave Tuesday’s game after becoming the latest Met to get hit.
In the top of the first inning, Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller hit Marte with a 95 mph fastball in his right hand. Marte quickly tried shaking it off, and after speaking with Buck Showalter and a trainer, he stayed in the game to run the bases, but was replaced by Tyler Naquin in right field in the bottom of the second inning.
The Mets later announced that Marte will undergo imaging, and the team will provide another update after that happens.
Sept. 6, 3:28 p.m.
The Mets hope to make a decision on Wednesday when it comes to when Max Scherzer's next start will be, manager Buck Showalter said on Tuesday.
Scherzer left his start on Saturday due to fatigue in his left side.
According to Showalter, Scherzer could pitch on Friday against the Marlins in Miami, could get pushed back, or could miss this turn through the rotation entirely.
If Scherzer doesn't pitch on Friday, either Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson, or Trevor Williams would likely start in his place.
MAY EXPECTED BACK SOON
Trevor May, who has been on the non-injury IL, could return as soon as Wednesday, Showalter said. If not Wednesday, May could be back during this weekend's series against the Marlins.
Sept. 4, 7:54 p.m.
In his second rehab appearance pitching for Double-A, Tylor Megill struck out the side in his one inning of work.
After pitching in relief in his first outing, Megill started Sunday’s game and dialed up his fastball to 95 mph. The righty has now struck out all six batters he’s faced so far during his assignment.
Sept. 4, 12:15 p.m.
A day after Max Scherzer left Saturday’s start early with what the team is calling “left side fatigue” manager Buck Showalter gave a small update on his starter’s health.
“[Scherzer] feels pretty good today. He’s going to start on an extra day or we push him back, but I don’t foresee this as a DL-able injury,” Showalter said prior to Sunday’s game. “He’s going to pitch soon after the off day.”
The Mets have an off day on Thursday, Sept. 8, which gives Scherzer and the entire rotation five days rest before their next scheduled starts. When the question of the team going with a six-man rotation to give their arms an extra day came up, Showalter said Scherzer doesn’t like having an extra day.
He also said he spoke to Scherzer in passing and he seemed ok, but the real test is when the right-hander goes through his work day early this week. That work day is when the team will know if he’s feeling a “bite” on his side or if it’s gone. And they'll decide then whether he'll make his next start.