PITTSBURGH — The freefalling Mets are facing the possibility of being without their best hitter for 3-4 weeks. The extra imaging on Pete Alonso’s left wrist showed a bone bruise and a sprain, forcing the club to place him on the injured list Friday.
It’s a huge blow for a team that has lost six straight and done so in brutal fashion. Alonso leads the Mets and MLB with 22 home runs and the lineup is lacking in power outside of Alonso, Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor.
The first baseman was hit on the left wrist with a 97 mph fastball from Atlanta Braves’ right-gander Charlie Morton on Saturday night at Truist Park. The injury came in the first inning and X-rays came back negative, but the club still felt it best to send him to New York to undergo more imaging and get examined by team doctors.
The Mets called up infielder Luis Guillorme from Triple-A Syracuse to take his spot on the roster. The club also made a move to get a fresh arm in the bullpen, designating right-hander Stephen Nogosek for assignment and calling up left-hander Zach Muckenhirn from Syracuse.
This gives the Mets two lefties in the bullpen and one they can use to face left-handed hitters in the middle innings, with Brooks Raley primarily deployed in high-leverage, late-inning situations.
In addition, right-hander Edwin Uceta underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee by Dr. Andrew Pearle in New York. He’s expected to return in eight weeks. Uceta was 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA over two outings in Syracuse. He made one appearance with the Major League team earlier this season.