The Mets are understandably being cautious with Starling Marte, both in the way they’re handling his return to action after multiple migraines as well as in revealing details about the specifics of what the outfielder is dealing with.
Manager Buck Showalter said Marte, who was eligible to come off the 10-day injured list Thursday but didn’t, isn’t necessarily expected back any time soon and may look for a second opinion. Showalter said a return is “not imminent.”
Marte and his partner are also expecting a baby in the near future, so he could go to the paternity list and may wait until the baby’s arrival before potentially getting the second opinion on the migraines.
After going through two days without any migraine effects last week, Showalter said Marte has dealt with them again this week “on a lesser scale.” Showalter said Marte hasn’t received any bad news with the migraines and is entitled to a second opinion to get clarity on the cause of the headaches and why they’ve occurred so close together.
“When they tell me we’re ready to activate him, we will,” Showalter said before the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Nationals and their subsequent decision to trade David Robertson to the Marlins. “We want to continue to eliminate any doubt [about the headaches]. Everything so far is good. There’s nothing negative that makes us feel we’re dealing with something else.”
Francisco Alvarez wasn’t in the lineup Thursday, but not because of getting hit on the right hand Tuesday.
Showalter said he’s trying to manage the rookie’s playing time, especially behind the plate.
The 21-year-old has started 64 games at catcher for the Mets this season, plus four games with Triple-A Syracuse prior to his call-up to Queens.
He caught a career-high 78 games at catcher last season, 77 in the minors and one with the Mets, and 59 in 2021.
“We want to be careful and if you don’t watch it, he’s gonna make a really big jump,’’ Showalter said. “We want to be careful with the workload with Francisco and not overtax him.”
Tommy Pham did conditioning drills prior to the Mets’ win, but wasn’t in the lineup Thursday as he tries to put the effects of a tight right groin behind him.
Showalter said Pham would likely start in left field Friday and wanted to play Thursday.
“It was close,’’ Showalter said of the decision.
Kodai Senga lowered his ERA to 3.17, the fifth-best in the majors, with one earned run in six innings on Thursday.
David Peterson’s temporary move to the bullpen has gone well and he tossed two scoreless innings of relief on Thursday, but the left-hander’s future remains as a starter, according to Showalter.
Asked what the organization views Peterson as, Showalter said, “Starter. He can do both, but we view him as a starter right now.”
He also noted that Peterson is “probably our next option as a starter” if a spot opens in the rotation… Daniel Vogelbach, who tied Thursday’s game with an RBI single in the eighth, is hitting .345 over his last 11 games.
“The last couple outings he’s looked pretty comfortable,’’ Showalter said. “He seems to have adapted.”
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