Andres Gimenez, MIchael Wacha, David Peterson and Jake Marisnick come off Mets' injured list
Mets starting pitcher Michael Wacha delivers against the Marlins during the first inning of an MLB game at Citi Field on Aug. 7. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Ahead of the Mets’ biggest weekend of the season — five games in three days against the Yankees — they received a big boost Friday from players returning from the injured list: infielder Andres Gimenez, outfielder Jake Marisnick, righthander Michael Wacha and lefthander David Peterson.
Gimenez’s return after just three days suggests he was not the Mets player who tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Players can be activated in fewer than the usual minimum of 10 days if they are on the IL for coronavirus reasons such as coming in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.
The other Mets player who went on the IL for undisclosed reasons on Tuesday was catcher Tomas Nido, who is still sidelined.
Manager Luis Rojas declined to provide an update on Nido’s condition. The Mets won’t acknowledge who tested positive for COVID-19, even though Nido is the only player absent without an injury.
Nido, though, wrote about his absence on Instagram.
“Missing being out there with my brothers!” he said Friday evening. “Can’t wait to get back out on the field soon. Wear your mask and stay safe, this virus will strike when you least expect it! Be back soon.”
Marisnick, who started in centerfield in the first game of the doubleheader, missed a month with a strained left hamstring.
Wacha and Peterson were dealing with inflammation in their throwing shoulders. Wacha started Game 1 against the Yankees and Peterson started Game 2.
To make room for those players on the active roster, righthander Corey Oswalt went on the IL (right biceps tendinitis), righthander Drew Smith was optioned to the alternate training site and righthander Walker Lockett and outfielder Juan Lagares were designated for assignment.
Lagares, the longest-tenured Mets player before he became a free agent at the end of last season, joined the Mets on Tuesday but lasted only three days. He seemed to respond to getting cut via a post of three emojis on Instagram: a large clown face, plus a smaller laughing face and face-palm.
Time to make up
The Mets and Marlins will play at 1 p.m. Monday at Citi Field, a makeup of the game originally scheduled for Thursday, when the teams walked off the field to protest racial inequality.
That is Jacob deGrom’s day to pitch. If he starts, he will face Miami for his fourth consecutive outing.
Yankees-Mets on Thursday — a makeup of a coronavirus-postponed game last weekend — will be at 4 p.m. at Citi Field.
The newest new guy
The Mets claimed outfielder Guillermo Heredia off waivers from the Pirates, assigning him to the alternate training site.
Heredia, 29, is a career .239/.317/.339 hitter in parts of five seasons, playing all three outfield spots.
Extra bases
Bench coach Hensley Meulens also returned to the Mets after missing three games. Third-base coach Gary DiSarcina remains absent . . . Catcher Patrick Mazeika was the 29th man for the doubleheader . . . In keeping with their new habit, the Mets did not name a starter for Saturday’s game as of Friday afternoon, but Rojas later said Robert Gsellman will make the start . . . The Mets added third-base prospects Brett Baty (the Mets’ first draft pick under Brodie Van Wagenen) and Mark Vientos to the 60-man player pool. They will work out at the alternate training site, MCU Park in Brooklyn.
