The Mets have made a flurry of roster moves to accommodate the promotion of Ronny Mauricio, and one of them is an unfortunate one.
New York officially placed Mark Vientos on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain he suffered in Monday's extra-innings win against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Before Tuesday's game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the severity of Vientos' strain is still unknown, and he's flying back to New York for further testing and imaging.
"We don't know [the severity]," Mendoza said. "But based off of all the testing he went through last night, we know it's a strain. We've just got to wait and see."
Vientos hit a grounder in the 10th inning and collapsed running up the first base line before getting up and grabbing at his leg. He eventually hobbled back to the dugout. After the game, Vientos was checked out by the team trainers and Mendoza said the injury "didn't look good."
Mauricio will take Vientos' spot on the bench and wear No. 10.
In addition to the Mauricio/Vientos news, the Mets optioned RHP Max Kranick back to Triple-A Syracuse following last night's game. The reliever allowed one run on one hit in his inning of work on Monday while striking out two. With no days off until Monday, the Mets needed another fresh reliever and Kranick has options -- so, he was brought back down to the minors, for now.
Kranick has pitched to a 3.51 ERA in his 22 appearances this season.
"He's been a huge part of that bullpen, and that's part of the messaging," Mendoza said of Kranick. "You know, 'This is part of the business, you've got options. Just know you're a big part of this team. Go down there and work on the things you've been working on, and you're going to be back.' That was the message. He understood. He took it hard, but he understood. You have to understand they're competitors."
Replacing Kranick in the bullpen will be LHP Brandon Waddell, who returns to the team after pitching against the White Sox last week. In that series finale, the 31-year-old allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk in five innings of work. While not his best outing, Waddell's innings gave the Mets' bullpen a blow heading into their weekend series with the Rockies, a series they ultimately swept.
In Waddell's two games with the Mets this season, he has pitched to a 3.86 ERA and struck out seven in 9.1 innings of work.
Also on the pitching front, RHP Frankie Montas' rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A. He will start Tuesday's game with the Syracuse Mets.