#Mets’ David Peterson set to return to rotation vs. Phillies

“#Mets’ David Peterson set to return to rotation vs. Phillies”

September 6, 2020 | 5:22am

David Peterson is back to join piecemeal Mets pitching rotation, but whom he is replacing still hasn’t been announced.

This much is clear: The rookie left-hander is scheduled to start Monday’s game against the Phillies, after last week moving into the bullpen to piggyback Michael Wacha in Baltimore. Wacha struggled before Peterson pitched four innings of scoreless relief in the victory.

In naming Peterson to start again, manager Luis Rojas on Saturday would not say whether Wacha or Robert Gsellman would be squeezed from the rotation. One of the two will presumably start Tuesday’s game against the Orioles at Citi Field.

Gsellman, like Wacha, has struggled to give the Mets length and quality innings in the rotation.

Tomas Nido was cleared to resume baseball activities and return to the 60-man player pool after spending the past 2½ weeks sidelined for undisclosed reasons following the team’s layoff because a player and coach tested positive for COVID-19. There is an expectation Nido will return to give the Mets a third catcher, joining Wilson Ramos and Robinson Chirinos.

“I was just in the cage when [Nido] was in there and he looks like had never left,” Michael Conforto said. “The quarantining was absolutely brutal. He was stuck down there [in Miami] for a long time and we’re glad to have him back.”

Todd Frazier switched to No. 21, which Billy Hamilton was wearing before he was designated for assignment by the club on Friday. Frazier — who has worn No. 21 for most of his career, including the last two years with the Mets — wore No. 33 for his first three games since returning in a trade. Frazier, who grew up a Yankees fan in New Jersey, began wearing No. 21 as a tribute to Paul O’Neill.

The Mets entered play without a win by a starting pitcher in 19 straight games, tying the longest drought in franchise history. They didn’t break the record thanks to Seth Lugo’s start in Saturday night’s 5-1 win over the Phillies. The 1980 Mets also had a stretch of 19 games without a win from the rotation.

Hunter Strickland cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to the team’s alternate training site. … Right-handed pitcher Pedro Payano was released.