#Mets place Luis Guillorme on injured list in defensive blow

PHILADELPHIA — The Mets’ best defensive option at third base will be sidelined for at least the next week-plus, and probably longer.

Before the Mets‘ 2-1 loss to the Phillies on Friday night, Luis Guillorme was placed on the injured list with a strained right oblique. It was unclear how Guillorme — who last appeared in a game Sunday — sustained the injury. Guillorme’s IL stint was retroactive to Thursday.

Guillorme has appeared in 14 games this season, serving as a late-inning defensive replacement and lefty bat off the bench. His steady play at third base was welcomed by the team during J.D. Davis’ recent IL stint and subsequent defensive slump.

Infielder Jose Peraza was recalled from the alternate site to take Guillorme’s roster spot. Peraza had been optioned earlier in the day to make room for lefty reliever Daniel Zamora.

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Jacob deGrom’s next start will likely come Tuesday in St. Louis, according to manager Luis Rojas, giving the Mets’ ace an extra day of rest.

Rojas cited the complete game deGrom pitched against the Nationals two starts ago as a factor. DeGrom was then removed after six innings and 93 pitches Wednesday against the Red Sox.

“We are going to be in May already, but we expressed this in the past: we want everyone the whole year,” Rojas said. “Nothing is happening [physically], but we just want to keep guys fresh, so maybe Monday we will have a chance.”

If Joey Lucchesi isn’t recalled for the starting assignment, the Mets could go with a bullpen game. Robert Gsellman and Jacob Barnes would be among the possibilities to pitch multiple innings in such a start.

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Carlos Carrasco, who was stretched to five innings in his most recent simulated game, will likely join the rotation in the second week of May, according to Rojas. The right-hander has been rehabbing from a right hamstring tear that occurred in spring training. … Seth Lugo has thrown two side sessions, according to Rojas, and may soon begin facing batters in his rehab from surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

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Mets players and staff received their second doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine following Wednesday’s game because of the built-in off day for anyone who might have needed it to deal with side effects.

“Some guys told me they felt fatigue [Thursday], but they were able to get the rest, so I think it was a good call by our medical staff to do it postgame before a day off to help guys recover if they get any kind of symptoms,” Rojas said.

Last week, acting GM Zack Scott said the Mets hadn’t reached the 85 percent participation level in vaccinations that MLB has encouraged.

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The Mets had allowed 16 unearned runs this season, entering Friday, the most in the major leagues — even with the fewest games played of any team.