Mets promote Corey Oswalt, send Gerson Bautista to Double-A Binghamton

Mets pitcher Gerson Bautista during photo day on Wednesday Feb. 21, 2018, in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
ATLANTA — Corey Oswalt is back in the major leagues, and he might even pitch this time.
In need of a fresh arm in the bullpen, the Mets called up the righthanded starter from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. They sent right hander Gerson Bautista back to Double-A Binghamton to open a spot on the roster.
This is Oswalt’s second promotion in as many weeks. He spent a day with the Mets in Miami last week, but didn’t get into the game.
The Mets’ bullpen began Saturday with a short bullpen. Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman each pitched a pair of innings Friday. Oswalt hasn’t pitched since April 13, when he tossed five innings upon his return to Las Vegas.
Bautista’s first stay in the majors was brief. Called up Tuesday, Bautista, 22, pitched in two games, allowing two runs and three hits in 2 1⁄3 innings. He also struck out two and walked four while struggling with his control, a theme of his career until the Mets acquired him from the Red Sox in last summer’s Addison Reed trade.
“He’s a young kid. He probably needs to kind of home in on his command, and he will,” Mickey Callaway said. “I think that a special arm like his, you can’t hope for both [velocity and control] all the time. He went out there and attacked the best he could.”
n Wheeler is rotating
An offshoot story line of Matt Harvey’s demotion to the bullpen: Zack Wheeler, who pitched himself off the roster in spring training, has done well enough in two major-league starts (2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) to merit a rotation spot. He’ll go again Sunday against the Braves.
“Wheeler’s throwing the ball really well,” Callaway said. “He deserves to stay in the rotation at this point. That’s fairly obvious to me. That’s why we made the decision we did. He’s been solid. He’s just got to keep it going.”
n Vargas almost ready
Lefthander Jason Vargas (fractured right hand) saw a doctor Saturday and all went well. After a rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, he will slot into the Mets’ rotation in San Diego on Saturday. Thanks to a day off Monday, the Mets won’t need a fifth starter until then.




