Mets Call Up Right-Hander Jacob DeGrom, Place Gonzalez Germen On DL
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — After their victory over the Yankees in the Subway Series opener, the Mets recalled right-hander Jacob deGrom from Las Vegas and placed reliever Gonzalez Germen on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 6, with a stomach virus.
A starter in the minors, deGrom will go into the big league bullpen. The Mets held him out of his scheduled start Monday night for Las Vegas and put him on "standby" for a call-up. He is 4-0 with a 2.58 ERA in seven starts for the 51s.
New York relievers are 7-8 with a 3.88 ERA, which ranks 16th in the majors. The bullpen has blown eight of 15 save chances and been saddled with five losses already this month.
A big part of the problem has been uncertainty in the ninth inning since closer Bobby Parnell went down with a season-ending elbow injury after blowing a save on opening day. Manager Terry Collins has tried veterans Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth in the role, but neither has been very effective.
Even longtime starter Daisuke Matsuzaka has a save, after the Mets converted him to a reliever this year.
"We don't have a guy we can count on in the ninth inning, and I think that colors everything," general manager Sandy Alderson said.
Farnsworth got his third save Monday night — thanks to some good fortune and sensational defense in a shaky ninth.
Collins said youngster Jeurys Familia is getting close to being a late-game option, and Alderson said Jenrry Mejía has the potential to be a closer — though he won't be rushed into that job right away.
Prior to Monday's game, Alderson announced that Mejía would go from the rotation to the bullpen to make room for 23-year-old starter Rafael Montero.
Montero will make his major-league debut against the Yankees at Citi Field on Wednesday.
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