In a season that seems to be unrelenting for the New York Mets, the team received a new blow on Thursday by announcing that two of its pitchers, Paul Blackburn and Dedniel Nunez, were placed on the 15-day injured list.
The news comes just as the team faces a depth crisis in its rotation and bullpen, with more than a dozen pitchers out with various injuries.
With this latest medical update, the Mets will have to reorganize their rotation to face their arch-rivals, the Yankees, in the Subway Series. And while Juan Soto no longer belongs to the Bronx, he has long hinted at his surprise at the collapse of his neighbors: “A city like New York needs two competitive teams,” he said recently. Today, that wish seems even more distant.
Mets’ pitching rotation in crisis: Paul Blackburn and Dedniel Nunez injuries worsen MLB 2025 outlook
Blackburn’s absence, who was scheduled to pitch Friday, adds to a long list of injured starters that includes Sean Manaea, Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill and Kodai Senga.
In his short stint with the Mets, Blackburn has been inconsistent with a 7.71 ERA in five appearances, and manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged that his most recent outing, in less than ideal conditions, may have aggravated his shoulder injury. “We knew we were asking a lot of him, but we were also in a tough spot,” Mendoza explained. “It wasn’t an easy decision, and here we are now.”
Dedniel Nuñez, who was a revelation in the bullpen last season, suffered a sprained right elbow that could lead to a second Tommy John surgery. “It’s a possibility that’s on the table,” Mendoza confirmed with visible concern, underlining the seriousness of the diagnosis. Nuñez was just beginning to regain form and had shown glimpses of his best form just before this new injury.
Mets turn to Triple-A to cover injuries: bullpen woes in full swing
As an emergency measure, the Mets called up three arms from Triple-A: Justin Hagenman, Austin Warren and Rico Garcia. Hagenman has been consistent in his two previous appearances, while Warren recently shone with more than two scoreless innings against Atlanta. However, the team still needs to define who will start at least two key games over the weekend against the Yankees, and the uncertainty is total.
Carlos Mendoza tries to stay calm and optimistic, but he acknowledges that the situation is critical. “We go day by day, outing by outing. We have to get through today and see how we are for tomorrow,” he said. Both Senga and Manaea are still expected to return before the All-Star break.
With four starting pitchers out and a constantly rotating bullpen, the Mets are in survival mode. Injuries, poor performance and a lack of depth have led the team to lose 14 of its last 18 games. For a franchise that started the campaign with playoff aspirations, the current outlook is bleak.
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