Mets could be without versatile Travis Jankowski for two months
The Mets are going to need to find a new late-game speed and defensive specialist for the next two months.
Travis Jankowski will be out for a while after suffering a left 4th metacarpal fracture in Wednesday’s loss to the Giants. The Mets expect him to miss six-to-eight weeks after hurting his left hand while making a diving catch. A screw was inserted into the hand.
“He’ll be back. He’ll be back,” manager Buck Showalter said before the Mets’ 8-6 win over the Phillies on Friday night at Citi Field. “It’s the loss of a very useful player for us. Travis did a lot of things for us.”
The Mets didn’t immediately replace Jankowski’s spot on the roster with an outfielder. But they will eventually need to. Nick Plummer is a likely candidate. He has spent time with the Mets this year, appearing in two games, and has produced an .824 OPS at Syracuse.
“You’ll see some things to cover the loss of Travis,” Showalter said. “I feel good where we are with that, obviously not to the complete skill set that Travis has. But we’ll get Travis back.”
Jacob deGrom threw on flat ground before the game and will make the trip out to the West Coast with the team following the current six-game homestand. He recently moved his workouts north to be closely monitored by team officials.
He has yet to pitch this year because of a stress reaction on his right scapula.
“He’s very upbeat that the club has been competitive while he isn’t here,” Showalter said. “He’s looking forward to getting back and making a contribution. … I think it’s kind of uplifting in a lot of ways to see him in the locker room for everybody, knowing what it’s probably going to be down the road if we can stay on this path.”
Tylor Megill is making progress in his rehab from biceps tendinitis. He threw a bullpen session off a mound on Thursday for the first time and felt fine on Friday. The next step for the right-hander is to throw live batting practice before making a start or two in the minor leagues, according to Showalter.
Catcher James McCann, out with a broken hamate bone in his left wrist, will start swinging a bat soon.
The Mets promoted relievers Yoan Lopez and Steve Nogosek from Triple-A Syracuse and demoted Thomas Szapucki. Lopez served a one-game suspension on Friday for throwing a pitch at Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies in a game on May 1. He was initially suspended for three games, but that number was reduced to one after an appeal.