The Mets can breathe a sigh of relief – at least for now – regarding pitcher Rafael Montero.
Tests performed on the rookie right-hander Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery showed inflammation in Montero’s rotator cuff that is not considered serious, according to general manager Sandy Alderson.
Montero has been placed on the disabled list, which nullified his demotion to Triple-A Las Vegas. Montero has been told to rest for three days and begin taking an anti-inflammatory before resuming a throwing program.
With Montero sidelined, the Mets have six pitchers on the disabled list.
Montero had discomfort Tuesday when he allowed three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in a spot start against the Marlins. The Mets planned to option Montero back to Las Vegas afterward, but the DL move supersedes that.
Manager Terry Collins has indicated the club may consider using a sixth starter again later this month, in a stretch of 20 games without a day off. Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard would be candidates for that start, in addition to Montero.
It will be a rematch of the 2013 All-Star Game starters at Citi Field on Friday when the Nationals’ Max Scherzer faces Matt Harvey.
Collins expects Harvey to be fired up about the team he’s facing more than the opposing pitcher.
“Facing the Nationals is bigger than just Max Scherzer,” Collins said. “Any time Matt goes out there, it’s like last Saturday, it wasn’t who he is pitching against, it was the fact he was pitching against the Yankees.
“And when we’re playing the Nationals I think he takes it as a challenge. That’s the team he knows we’ve got to beat, so I think he will get pumped up for it.”
Bobby Parnell resumed throwing Thursday after a week-long layoff and Vic Black is playing catch from 90 feet, but the return of neither reliever is imminent.