The Mets’ injury nightmare continues.
After blowing the save yesterday and allowing four runs to the San Francisco Giants, closer Jeurys Familia was diagnosed with a blood clot on his right shoulder.
He is scheduled for more tests tomorrow, visiting Dr. Robert Thompson in St. Louis. Surgery is definitely a possibility.
Thompson is the same doctor, who performed the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery on Matt Harvey last year. He also relieved Dillion Gee of a blood clot in 2012. Both missed the rest of the season after their procedures.
So if surgery is the answer here, this is definitely crushing blow for the Mets, who struggled early on, but went on a streak to get back to .500 before yesterday’s loss. The team already lost Yoenis Cespedes and Noah Syndergaard to injuries. If missing those two are key losses then Familia would be the lock.
Last season, when the Mets went through their annual injury parade, the back end of the bullpen was the one constant on the team. Familia had 51 saves, while Addison Reed was rock solid in the eighth inning.
However, this season, Familia was suspended the first 15 games for domestic violence issues and the bullpen struggled with Reed in the closer’s spot. So, unlike other losses where the Mets have depth, Familia’s absence will leave a huge hole in the back of the bullpen. Sure, Fernando Salas and Jerry Blevins have been okay in their roles, but they don’t seem to be ready for the eighth inning because manager Terry Collins last week in Atlanta even used Reed in the seventh to get the Braves’ toughest outs.
So, the Mets will have to look outside the organization for a higher end bullpen arm, unless Salas, Blevins, or Hansel Robles suddenly prove they are capable for the eighth inning.
Unfortunately, that trade market hasn’t opened yet and probably won’t for another two months, so the Mets will have to tread water if the news out of St. Louis comes out negative.
Yes, the nightmare continues.
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