The Mets are set to activate Jeurys Familia from the IL before Tuesday night's game, with Eric Hanhold being sent down to make room, according to SNY's Andy Martino.
As far as how Familia will be utilized upon his return? It won't be in asetup role at first...
On Sunday, manager Mickey Callaway said he will initially be cautious in using Familia in high-leverage situations.
"At this moment, if we have other guys available ... and the inning is a hold situation, Familia probably will not pitch that inning at this point," Callaway said. "Now, if we use all those guys on that day, and then the next day we have a hold situation in the eighth, then he's going to have to pitch. So it's not that we don't feel confident in him at that point. We do feel like there's going to have to be a little bit of an easing him back in to fit back where he should in the bullpen."
The 29-year-old Familia has struggled immensely this season. Overall, he has a 6.28 ERA in 14 outings. Over his last 10 2/3 innings, he has allowed 11 runs (10 earned), 15 hits and 11 walks with two blown saves. Opponents are hitting .366 against him in that span.
"We've got to get him back to the productive Familia that he's been in the past," Callaway said.
The Mets know what Familia is capable of. He set the franchise saves record (51) in 2016 and had a 2.88 ERA in 40 games last year before the Mets traded him.
With Familia, who signed a three-year, $30 million deal in the offseason, and closer Edwin Diaz, relief pitching was supposed to be one of the team's strengths this year. However, the bullpen's 4.78 ERA is eighth worst in the majors.
Familia has been on the IL since May 1 due to a Bennett lesion (a type of bone spur) in his throwing shoulder, something Callaway said Familia has dealt with for years.
But Familia is confident his brief stint on the IL, which will end when the Mets begin a three-game series against the Nationals on Tuesday, will help him in the long run.
"I'm excited to be back to do what I love to do," Familia said.