NEW YORK — Already running low on pitching, the New York Mets added starter Paul Blackburn and reliever Dedniel Núñez to a crowded injured list Thursday in their latest flurry of roster moves.
Núñez, 29, has a right elbow sprain and could require Tommy John surgery for the second time in his pro career; he underwent the procedure in 2021, three years before his MLB debut. Blackburn, 31, was given medication for a right shoulder impingement and won’t throw for three to five days.
“Hopefully that calms the discomfort there a little bit and we’ll get him going, so that’s relatively good news,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, whose team beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Thursday night to improve to 50-38 this season and are second in the National League East Division, 1 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
David Peterson (6-4) rebounded from a pair of rough starts, tossing 6 2/3 effective innings in a much-needed boost for the thin rotation. Ryne Stanek got four straight outs, ending the eighth with a primal scream after striking out all three batters in the inning, and Edwin Díaz fanned two in a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 19 opportunities this year.
“As far as the rotation goes: One day at a time,” Mendoza said. “Got to get through today and see where we’re at for tomorrow and then for the weekend.”